of New York 



37 



BALSAM FIR 



Abies balsamea, (Linnaeus) Mitter 



THE BALSAM Fir, also called Balsam, Fir and Blister Pine, 

 is the favorite Christmas tree of the American people, 

 and one of our most beautiful evergreen trees. Most people 

 who have seen it have a lasting impression of its rare beauty. 



BALSAM FIR 

 One-half natural site. 



The leaves are flat, stalkless, blunt-pointed, % of an inch 

 long, deep green on upper surface, pale green with two white 

 lines on lower surface. They are spirally arranged, but 

 appear to be in two flat rows. It is a common practice to 

 fill pillows and cushions with the fragrant leaves. 



The cones are 2 to 4 inches long, cylindrical in outline, 

 stand erect on twigs. The cone-scales fall off shortly after 

 maturing and leave only a bare cone-axis. 



The bark is smooth, grayish-brown, and dotted with pro- 

 jecting balsam blisters. Upon puncturing them a clear bal- 

 sam flows forth. The twigs are rather stout, grayish-brown 

 and smooth. The buds are egg-shaped, blunt-pointed, glossy, 

 one-sixth of an inch long, clustered at end of twigs. 



The wood is soft, pale brown, not strong nor durable. 

 It is used chiefly for crates, boxes, and pulp. 



The Balsam Fir is a tree of the Northwoods. It is found 

 from Labrador to Manitoba and Minnesota, south to Penn- 

 sylvania and along the mountains to Virginia. In New 

 York this tree occurs chiefly in swamps and peat bogs. It is 

 common throughout the Adirondacks, the northern counties, 

 and higher Catskills. It extends south to Dutchess and Dela- 

 ware counties, and westward to Ontario and Cattaraugus 

 counties. This tree is planted in all parts of the State as an 

 ornamental tree. 



