214 Our Field and Forest Trees 



death of branches, and sometimes they extend 

 back to the heartwood of the trunk. 



Fig. 60. A spray of the balsam fir. 



Spruce gum brings a good price, and so it is 

 gathered in the north woods by " gummers " car- 

 rying long poles armed with chisels. The blisters 

 are cut open with these chisels, and the gum which 

 flows out is caught in cups on the tops of the 

 poles. It is used by chewing gum makers. 



A large proportion of the world's supply of 

 resin comes from the flat " piney woods " of 

 Georgia and the Carolinas. 



