; 



48 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



2. Black Spruce. (A. nigra, Poir.) — Common in 

 our mountains, especially on the Black, but at a 

 lower elevation than the preceding species. It ex- 

 tends from this State along the Alleghanies to New 

 England and Canada. In our mountains it is some- 

 times very improperly called Juniper, and it is, I be- 

 lieve, what is most commonly and absurdly called He 

 Balsam. With us it is a small tree of darker green 

 foliage than the preceding, but of similar form. In 

 higher latitudes it has a height of 70 or 80 feet, and 

 is there an elegant tree. The wood has strength, 

 lightness and elasticity, and is much used both in 

 the Northern States and abroad, for the yards and 

 topmasts of vessels. The drink so popular at the 

 North, and known as Spruce Beer, gets its name from 

 the use of the small branches, chiefly of this species, 

 which are steeped in the brew. 



3. White Spruce. (A. alba, Michx.)— This has 

 about the same range in the United States as the 

 Black Spruce, but does not extend quite so far to the 

 northward. It is rather rare in our mountains, but 

 is occasionally met with in similar situations with 

 the other, and with which it is generally confounded 

 by the inhabitants. In one instance I heard it called 

 Lavender, a name belonging to a garden herb. It is 

 very distinct from the preceding, and its whole aspect 

 is lighter ; the summit of a similar pyramidal form, 

 but less compact, is of less size, with slender and 

 more drooping branchlets, the pale green leaves of 

 more delicate form, and the cones narrower. The 



