^'^^ OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 175 



been discovered, natives of Mexico, California, IsTortlx-West 

 America, also tlie Himalayas, and a few in the Caucasus and 

 Europe. Many of them are lofty trees, and are not only valued 

 for their timber, but also for the production of tar, turpentine, 

 and balsamic resins. The number of species now known amounts 

 to about 20, of which we need but notice a few of the most 

 important. 



Ahies excelsa, IsTorway Spruce Fir, native of northern and 

 alpine regions of Central Europe, in some localities forming 

 extensive forests, and said to attain a height of 100 to 150 

 feet. Its timber is highly valued, and imported to this country 

 from ports in the Baltic under the name of White Deal, and 

 employed for all purposes of house -building, interior fittings 

 of houses, etc. When grown close together the trees run up 

 erect and slender, and to a considerable height; such furnish 

 good scaffold poles ; the wood takes a high polish, and is used 

 by cabinet and musical instrument makers, etc. This Spruce, 

 like other allied species, 3delds an odoriferous resin, which is 

 obtained by making incisions in its bark, and on being boiled in 

 water and strained becomes Burgundy Pitch. The tree is 

 extensively grown in this country, both for its timber and for 

 ornamental purposes. 



A, Dougla^ii, Douglas Spruce Fir, a large tree, native of 

 British Columbia, North -West America: introduced to this 

 country in 1826 by its discoverer, David Douglas (Botanical 

 Collector for the Eoyal Horticultural Society), after whom it is 

 named. It attains a height of 150 to 200 feet. Its wood 

 is white, soft, and brittle. In 1861 a specimen of a trunk, 

 forming a flag-staff 159 feet long, was presented to the Eoyal 

 Gardens, Kew, and set up on one of the Temple-mounds raised 

 by George III. more than a hxmdred years ago. The tree has 

 been extensively planted in this country, but it is a q[uestion 

 whether it will be useful otherwise than as an ornamental tree. 

 A. canadensis, called the Hemlock Spruce Fir, native of 

 Canada, and extending southward through the United States 

 on mountains. In Canada it attains a height of 60 to 80 feet. 



