BALSAM FIRS. 159 



are distinguished by lumbermen, the Red and the Yellow Fir, 

 the former is coarse grained and dark colored and considered 

 less valuable than the latter. Both kinds are largely manu- 

 factured into lumber and used for all kinds of construction, 

 railway ties, piles, etc. 



Genus ABIES. 



Trees of pyramidal habit. Leaves sessile, flat, with the 

 midrib prominent on the lower surface, appearing 2-ranked 

 by a twist near the base giving the horizontal branches a flat 

 appearance. Cones erect on the upper side of the branches, 

 maturing the first year. 



Abies balsamea. Balsam Fir. 



Leaves narrow, linear, i to f of an inch long, dark green 

 above, whitened on the under side, falling during the fifth sea- 

 son. Cones cylindrical. 2 to 4 inches long, and one inch thick, 

 violet colored; bracts shorter than the scales and tipped with 

 a slender point. The branches grow out usually in whorls of 

 about five each with great regularity and diminishing in length 

 from below upwards forming a symmetrical pyramidal top. 

 This is a very striking habit and gives to the Balsam Fir 

 swamps a characteristic aspect. Tree slender, sometimes 80 

 feet high. 



Distribution. Northeastern United States and Canada, 

 southward to Virginia, westward beyond the Mississippi and 

 far north, growing in swamps and cold damp woods. In 

 Minnesota almost confined to the northeastern half of the 

 state extending south to Chisago and Isanti counties. 



Propagation. By seeds, horticultural varieties by grafting. 



Properties of wood. Veryr soft, light, weak, not durable, 

 with distinct coarse grain, color whitish with a slightly red- 

 dish tint toward the heart. Specific gravity 0.3819, weight of 

 a cubic foot 23.8 pounds. 



Uses. The Balsam Fir is very striking and very pretty 

 when young. On moist, retentive soil it holds on well in this 

 section but is poorly adapted for general planting and should 

 be used sparingly if at all. The wood is of very little value, 

 and is seldom sawed into lumber. It furnishes Canada Bal- 

 sam, which is an aromatic oil-like resin of considerable com- 



