MERTEN8 PACIFIC SEMLOCI BPRUCE 43 



are shallow, and in Alaska rest on, and cling to, rocks with 

 scarcely any appreciable soil at all, simply slop-holes of liv- 

 ing and dead sphagnum — but here, altogether dry, only the 

 roots reaching moisture — the sharply conic top at the same 

 time serves to let in the sunlight and air to sweeten these 

 woods. The thickened lower branches often so abound that 

 much radiation and loss of heat is prevented in Winter and 

 heat excluded in Summer — tempering the clime — besides, 

 her foliage precipitates little moisture, unlike redwoods and 

 their like, and as the snow melts soonest on her boughs, they 

 bend down in the lean-to style of branch or center-pole and 

 circle-tented. Viewed all round, it is manifest they shed 

 their drip afar round about; this elegant sheltering foliage 

 thickens deeper in or farther back, and multiplies itself 

 amazingly. It not only divides and conquers the wind at 

 the tips, but by successive subdividing sprigs, continually 

 diverges and multifariously mingles the elemental strife, 

 until all its force is fritted away, and the calmed air nestles 

 quietly beneath her peaceful wings; therefore a lodge under 

 these boughs is both warm and dry, fragrant and sweetly 

 ventilated — indeed, constitutes that unsurpassed and ever- 

 living sanitarium for the invalid to which we previously 

 alluded. Camping out and sleeping on these boughs has a 

 north continental reputation for restoring and rejuvenating, 

 accordant with Norwegian and Swedish traditions and cus- 

 toms, where, once a week, the floor must needs be strewn 

 with twigs of spruce or juniper tops. Is it any wonder these 

 refreshing odors inspire the social home-circles with all the 

 rural virtues that adorn these 



" Lovely bowers of innocence and ease, 

 Seats of my youth, when every sport could please; 

 How oft I've listened o'er thy green, 

 Where humble happiness endear'd each scene 1" 



And where this old sylvan nurse reached her long arms out 

 and took us by the hand, and we self-sufficiently climbed 

 her arms, and, with loud echoing glee, sported among the 

 entanglings; or, with dignified importance of great business 

 in hand, selected the choice bough for the cross-bow, or more 

 primeval bow and arrow of the native. It is noteworthy 

 how admirably this tree rallies and thickens-in the top when 

 broken off by the tempest — which full oft takes the conceit 

 out of its too ardent aspirations — nature's testimony that it 

 bears training to any reasonable extent, responsive to the 

 bidding of the master ; one of the best shelter trees known, 

 wherever it will nourish at all, whether for the orchard, 

 garden, yards, or for game of all sorts. 



In our native wild woods, the cattle and beasts of the forest 

 and field, and the fowls of heaven, find shelter under her 



