196 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



North America. Its leaves are silvery- white on the under- 

 side ; the cones yield a turpentine called Canada balsam, 

 which is used for preserving microscopic objects. 



There are many noble species of Picea natives of California, 

 such as P. nobilis, P. Menziesii, P. hracteata ; also the beau- 

 tiful P. Wehhiana of North India, but the latter is, unfor- 

 tunately, not hardy in this country. P. Cephalonica and P. 

 Pinsapo, natives of the South of Europe, form beautiful orna- 

 mental trees in this country. 



Abies and Picea are distinguished from Pinus by their 

 leaves not being in sheaths ; and A hies and Picea differ in 

 the cones of the first being pendulous and the scales per- 

 manent, while in Picea the cones are erect and the scales 

 deciduous, leaving the centre axis standing like a spike. 



Larch {^Larix europoea). The larch forms large forests in 

 Switzerland and other parts of Europe, and is extensively 

 planted in this country for its timber. It forms an orna- 

 mental tree sometimes attaining a great height, and is the 

 only European species of the family that sheds its leaves. 

 In Scotland (Perthshire) trees are to be found measuring 

 21 feet in circumference. 



Larix Kcempferi. A native of China, is in habit similar to 

 the European larix, but with a more glaucous hue in the 

 leaves, and is called the Golden Larch. It is described 

 by Mr. Fortune as attaining the height of 120 to 130 feet, 

 with a clear stem of 50 feet and a girth of 5 feet near the 

 ground. It was introduced about fifteen years ago, grows 

 freely and appears quite hardy. It yields Venice Tur- 

 pentine. 



Cedar of Lebanon {Cedrus Lihani). A native of Western 

 Asia, the earliest and best known being those of Mount 

 Lebanon ; it is also found on Mount Taurus and other moun- 

 tain ranges of Asia Minor. The cedar is of ancient fame, 

 and is first brought especially into notice by King Solomon 

 sending to Hiram,* King of Tyre, for cedar trees to build 



* 1 Kings, chap. v. ver. 2. 



