GETTING ACQUAINTED JflTH THE TREES 



trees that the botanist describes as conifers. 

 These cone -bearing trees are nearly all ever- 

 greens — that is, the foliage persists the year 

 round, instead of being deciduous, as the leaf- 

 dropping maples, oaks, birches, and the like 

 are scientifically designated. Historically the 

 pines are of hoary age, for they are closely 

 related to the growths that furnished the geo- 

 logic coal measures stored up in the founda- 

 tions of the earth for our use now. Econom- 

 ically, too, all the pine family together is of 

 vast importance — "the most important order of 

 forest trees in the economy of civilized man," 

 says Dr. Fernow ; for, as he adds, the cone- 

 bearing trees "have furnished the bulk of the 

 material of which our civilization is built." 

 As usual, civilization has destroyed ruthlessly, 

 thoughtlessly, almost viciously, in using this 

 material ; wherefore the devastation of the for- 

 ests, moving them back from us farther and 

 farther until in many regions they are but a 

 thin fringe, has left most of us totally unfa- 

 miliar with these trees, of the utmost beauty 

 as well as of the greatest value. 



To know anything at all of the spruces, 



52 



