The Fir. 



perceive, when you open the package, that they have fer- 

 mented. They even appear to be sound and solid ; but if 

 there have been fermentation the seeds will not grow ; the 

 germ is the thing of importance; it is very tender, and is 

 destroyed by the least degree of fermentation. I expected 

 at least two hundred thousand plants from the Elm seeds 

 which I imported the summer before last. Nothing could 

 appear to be in better condition. I sowed them with as 

 much confidence as 1 should have sowed radish seed that 

 I had raised myself, and not one single seed ever came up. 



In Latin, Abies; in French, Epicie. 



243. The botanical characters are: — The male flowers are disposed in a loose 

 bunch, having no carolla, but many stamina, joined in form of a column at 

 their base, but separated above, having erect summits. Tlie females are col- 

 lected in an oblong cone, each scale inclosing two, which have no carolla, a 

 small germen with a single stigma. These are succeeded by membrana- 

 ceous winged seeds. 



244. We call every thing Fir, whether it be of the Pi7ie 

 sort or of the Spruce ; but, as the manner of propagating 

 and planting of both descriptions are the same, I shall not 

 encumber my work by an useless division in this respect. I 

 shall treat of Pines and Spruce all under one and the same 

 head. I will give here, however, from Miller, the bota- 

 nical characters of the Pine species. 



