394 



THE SILVER FIR. 



tanning leather, and is used generally in some 

 parts of Switzerland. In some parts of Europe, 

 the young cones, reduced by boiling to a pulp, 

 and preserved with sugar, are eaten as a sweet- 

 meat. 



The Silver Fir is very liable to the attack of an 

 insect belonging to the genus Eriosoma, which is 

 not only injurious by disfiguring the individual 

 it infests, but frequently causes the death of the 

 tree by the absorption of its juices. It always 

 attacks the main trunk or the undersides of the 

 branches ; appearing in patches, and covered with 

 a white cottony substance. Not only are young 

 trees killed by these destructive insects, but full- 

 grown trees measuring eleven or twelve feet in 

 girth. The only remedy which has been found 

 eflfectual is to rub the insects to death with a 

 brush or coarse canvas cloth in spring. It does 

 not appear to extend its ravages to any others 

 of the Fir tribe, nor has it been know^n for more 

 than thirty or forty years ; but it is said to be 

 greatly on the increase. 



