GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE TREES 



a Norway spruce that has been untouched by 

 knife or disaster since its planting many years 

 ago. No pruning has shortened in its "leader" 

 or top, no foolish idea of "trimming it up" 

 has been allowed to deprive it of the very 

 lowest branches, which, in consequence, now 

 sweep the ground in full perfection, while the 

 unchecked point of the tree still aspires upward 

 forty feet above. A beautiful object is this 

 tree perhaps the most beautiful of all the 

 conifers in my friend's great "pinetum," with 

 its scores of rare species. Let me ask, then, 

 those who would set this or any other tree of 

 evergreen about the home, to see to it that the 

 young tree from the nursery has all its lower 

 branches intact, and that its top has never 

 been mutilated. With care, such specimens 

 may be obtained and successfully transplanted, 

 and will grow in time to a lovely old age of 

 steady greenness. 



The balsam fir is almost indistinguishable 

 from the Norway spruce when young, but soon 

 grows apart from it in habit, and is hardly as 

 desirable, even though a native. It is rich 

 in the true balsamic odor; and this, again, is 



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