CHAPTER XIII. 
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CONIFEROUS TREES. 
The Conifers (cone-bearing trees), constitute a very 
large proportion of the forests of North America. 
Large tracts of the British Provinces, and of the 
northern parts of the United States—of the ridges of 
the Alleghanies—of the summits and sides of the 
Rocky Mountains, and of the country west to the 
Pacific Ocean, are covered with them. In the mari- 
time parts of the southern Atlantic States—in the 
greater part of Florida, and extensive tracts in the 
States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, Pines con- 
stitute the principal growth of wood. The family of 
Conifers comprises some of the most valuable kinds 
of timber known. The evergreen forests of the 
United States have unquestionably contributed more 
to their wealth and advancement than the richest 
mines of gold and silver could have done. At least 
nine-tenths of the wood sawed into lumber and con- 
sumed in the country, is the product of resinous 
trees. he greater part of the woodwork of build- 
ings of every sort is of this description, and immense 
