THE FIR AND CYPRESS FAMILY. 195 



winter food of tribes of Indians, and even the bark of some 

 is eaten. They are all hardy in this country, as also P. ex- 

 celsa of the Himalayas, the latter being the same as P. pence 

 found in Macedonia. 



All the above species belong to the true pine and fir group, 

 and are known by having from two to five needle-like leaves 

 in a sheath, thus distinguishing them from the spruce 

 group. 



Spruce Fir (Abies excelsa). A native of the Northern and 

 Alpine regions of Europe, and is said to attain the height of 

 from 100 to 150 feet. It grows freely in this country, and 

 when standing singly forms a beautiful tree equal to the 

 Araucaria of Norfolk Island. It has drooping cones six 

 inches in length, the scales of which are permanent. It is 

 valued for its timber, which is imported from ports of the 

 Baltic under the name of white deal ; it furnishes a resin 

 from which true Burgundy pitch is made. A kind of frank- 

 incense is also obtained from it, and the young branches 

 are boiled for making spruce beer. It extends to the re- 

 gions of the icy sea in 70° north latitude, where trees of no 

 great size have been cut down showing 300 annual rings, 

 consequently that number of years old. Pinus Cemhra has 

 been found in the same locality having an equal number of 

 rings. 



AUes Douglasii. An immense tree of this group, native 

 of North West America, where it is said to attain the height 

 of 200 or more feet ; its wood is soft and brittle. A speci- 

 men, called the flag-staff, has been erected at Kew, measuring 

 159 feet in height. 



Silver Fir {Picea pectinata). A native of Europe and 

 Northern Asia. It takes its name from its silvery white 

 leaves, and attains a great height, it is even said above 

 200 feet, and when standing singly is a beautiful tree. A 

 resin is obtained from it, which when purified, is called 

 Strasburgh turpentine. 



Picea halsamea. A native of Canada and other parts of 

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