20 TREES A^D SHRUBS 



of the cones project slightly beyond the scales. The cone 

 scales are flat, broadly obovate, reddish within when young, 

 and fall away at maturity. One of the species is used for 

 lumber whenever the trees are large enough. 



The Balsam (Abies concolor) is a very large tree when 

 mature, and forms an important part of the coniferous forests 

 of the States north and northwest of us. In the mountains of 

 New Mexico it is occasional only. The young trees are very 

 beautiful and would be very decorative if brought into culti- 

 vation. Whether this can be done or not the author is unable 

 to say. 



The Cork Bark Fir {Abies arisonica) is a small tree re- 

 sembling the spruce somewhat in size and the general conical 

 shape. It may be readily recognized by the thin corky bark, 

 which is very white on the young trunk and branches. As a 

 decorative tree it would be very valuable if it can be introduced 

 into cultivation. 



The Spruce or Douglas Spruce {Pseudotsuga mucro- 



nata), often referred to as the White or Red Fir, is the largest 

 conifer of the mountains of our State, where it grows at ele- 

 vations of from 7,000 feet almost to timber line. Under favor- 

 able conditions the tree reaches a great diameter. Old trees 

 6 and 7 feet in diameter at the base are not uncommon in New 

 Mexico, while in the far Northwest, where this tree is most at 

 home, it is often very much larger. The bark is thick and very 

 rough. The leaves are short and arranged much like those 

 of the Balsam. It may be most easily recognized by the 

 pendant cones, which are \)A or 2 inches long and composed 

 of thin persistent scales with rather slender three-parted bracts 

 protruding y 2 inch or more from beneath each scale. The 

 lumber made from these trees is considered next in value to 

 that of the yellow pine. In cultivation young trees of this 

 species are very graceful and beautiful, being slender and 



