﻿Distinctive Characters of Canadian Spruces. 16^3 



and the exact relations of these to each other, have 

 not been concordant. It seemed desirable to invite 

 attention again to the subject, and this was done in a 

 preliminary paper read in Section IV. of the Eoyal Society 

 of Canada, at the meeting held at Ottawa in May last 

 (1887.) The discussion on that occasion, and subsequent 

 correspondence, have shown that the matter is not without 

 interest, and have suggested the desirability of publishing 

 some of the facts then stated, as well as results subse- 

 quently reached, together with some historical details — so 

 as to indicate our present knowledge on the subject, 

 the information still needed, and the directions in which 

 profitable enquiry may be made. Local observers and 

 collectors throughout the Dominion, and travellers visiting 

 northern points, may do much to aid in determining the 

 geographical range of the several species, varieties and 

 forms, and the continuity or intermittence of their distri- 

 bution in different regions. 



The beautiful evergreen coniferous trees called " spruces" 

 form a marked feature of the wild forest lands of the 

 Canadian Dominion, especially in the Atlantic maritime 

 districts, and in the tracts of country lying around 

 the great lakes. The spruces are valued, not only for 

 their large yields of useful lumber, applicable to so many 

 purposes of life on land and sea, and for the summer 

 shade and winter shelter which, as living trees, they afford 

 our dwellings, but they are likewise regarded with 

 interest, and as having some importance, from scientific 

 points of view. How far the differences in structure and 

 habit presented by the several species, and their aberrant 

 or so-called intermediate forms, are to be regarded 

 as indicative of genetic differences, or may be accounted 

 for by the mere effects of past or present external 

 conditions, is a question of more than incidental interest. 

 It naturally leads to a comparison of these trees with 

 their allies in other parts of the northern hemisphere, far 



