92 



than pine, and is very durable when kept from contact with the ground. It 

 often attains a height exceeding 100 feet, and a stem four feet in diameter, 

 and has been split into rails, and sawed into shingles, as well as timber, 

 plank and boards. The knotless portions being generally entirely free from 

 resin, it takes and holds paint remarkably well. It grow's nearly as fast as 

 the pines, and prefers a light, dry, hilly or even rocky soil, where it might 

 be planted at the rate of 1,440 to the acre or 66 inches apart— one-half being 

 cut away when the trees are a foot in diameter, and suitable for small hew- 

 ing timber. Its dark, dense shade preventing evaporation, makes such dry 

 soil appear almost swampy. When found in wetter swampy soil, the tree 

 seldom reaches a large size ; while in heavy clay it is tender and often win- 

 ter kills. 



This is the moat beautiful native evergreen we possess ; and great exertion 

 should be made to make it grow in all parts of the state, as one of the most 

 valuable of trees. 



ABIES NIGRA. {Blaclc Spruce.) 



In this state this spruce is little more than a shrub, and is not a rapid 

 grower ; but that is not much to be regretted since we have already so far 

 introduced the Norway spruce (abies excelsa), that that tree may as well be 

 planted aa the native variety. This last i? a magnificent tree and succeeds 

 well in almost any good soil. It grows very rapidly, both in height and size; 

 and when planted thick or with other trees, may be made to produce excel- 

 lent timber for hewing, and other building purposes. 



Some of the species discovered in the Rocky mountains, grow to immense 

 heights, often over two hundred feet, making large trees, with beautiful fo- 

 liage and really wonderful cones in their .structures as well as beauty. Trees 

 irom there would be a great acquisition, and it would pay for the farmers to 

 procure seeds from that dry, open region for their own planting. Trees from 

 which timber fifty feet long may be hewed are not unfrequent in the moun- 

 tains near Taos, N. M. A species of balsam fir (Abies Balsamea), in the same 

 neighborhood, with an exceeding thick foliage, and leaves more than an inch 

 long, may also be obtained, at the same place. But after all it is doubted 

 if any species will give greater satisfaction, either for timber or ornament, 

 than the Norway spruce and hemlock. 



LARIX. {Larch) 



Catkins lateral and scattered, bud-like. Sterile flowers nearly as in the 

 pines, but the pollen is of simple spherical grains. Cones ovoid, erect, the 

 bracts and scales persistent ; otherwise as in abies. Leaves deciduous, soft, 

 Tery many in a fascicle, developed in early spring from lateral scaly and glob- 

 ular buds, which produce the same or the second year, shoots on which leaves 

 are scattered. Fertile catkins crimson or red when in' flower. The name is 

 ancient Greek. 



There is but. one species in this state, Laeix Americands [Black Zarch, Tam- 

 arack and Hackmatack) with leaves almost thread-like ; cones ovoid of a few 

 rounded scales. The Red larch is but a variety of the American. 



