The California Laurel: The Conifers. 



299 



tree, sometimes called the " mountain laurel " or "^ spire-tree," grows 

 to the height ef seventy feet, in favorable locations, but ordinarily 

 not more than from 10 to 30 feet. It gets its finest development in 

 Oregon, but extends southward into Mexico. The wood is well 

 adapted for cabinet-work, and is sometimes highly ornamental. 



148. Leaves, Mo-wers, and Fruit of tlie Umi^elhUaria CaU/omica, of one-half 

 tlie Kiitural Size. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



THE CONIFERS. 



1232. The Coniferce may be undoubtedly regarded as the most 

 important timber trees known in commerce, and of the greatest 

 utility to man. They are, for the most part, evergreen, and are 

 widely scattered in both temperate zones and upon mountains within 

 the tropics, being the last every-where to disappear at the timber- 

 line. [§§ 107, 108.] In Northern Europe, in Siberia,' and upon 



