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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Ground Hemlock. They grow in dense patches, completely covering 

 the ground, and in numerous instances with their apices all pointing 

 the same way. They have the short internodes and the short pale 

 leaves of the Bastard Spruce." (From a Paper on Abies nigra, read 

 before the Albany Institute by C. H. Peck, Esq.) 



It has long been known in Europe ; and Josselyn, in his "History of 

 New England," published in London in 1672, informs us that it was 

 considered at that period to furnish the best yards and topmasts in 

 the world. 



Cones being frequently imported, the tree is abundant in British 

 nurseries, and has been generally distributed as an ornamental tree ; 

 which it hardly merits, save on account of the colour of its cones 

 when young and the dense habit of growth of the tree. 



The Black Spruce, according to Pursh, is of " great mechanical 

 use" in America, besides being "the tree of which that wholesome 

 beverage called spruce beer is made." Michaux says "the dis- 

 tinguishing properties of the Black Spruce are strength, lightness, 

 and elasticity." In the dockyards of the United States the spars 

 are usually of Black Spruce from the district of Maine, and it is 

 exported in great quantities for the same purpose to the West Indies 

 and Liverpool. The knees of vessels at Boston and in the district of 

 Maine are sometimes made of the base of this tree and one of the 

 principal roots ; and it is substituted for Oak in many places where 

 the timber of that tree is becoming scarce. In Maine and Boston it 

 is often employed for the rafters of houses, and is more esteemed for 

 that purpose than even the Hemlock Spruce. It is sometimes used for 

 floors, for which purpose it is found tougher than the White Pine, 

 F. Strohus, but is more liable to crack. In all these regions, but 

 particularly in Maine and New Brunswick, the Black Spruce is sawn 

 into boards of considerable width, which are sold a fourth cheaper 

 than those of White Pine, and are exported in great quantities to 

 the West Indies and to England, being used in the latter country, 

 principally at Birmingham and Manchester, for packing-cases. This 

 species is not resinous enough to afford turpentine as an article 

 of commerce, and the wood snaps when burning like that of the 

 Chestnut. 



The following is the method given by Duhamel for making spruce 

 beer : "To make a cask of spruce beer a boiler is necessary which 

 will contain one- fourth part more than the quantity of liquor which 

 is to be put into it. It is then filled three parts full of water, 

 and the fire lighted. As soon as the water begins to get hot, a quan- 

 tity of Spruce twigs is put into it, broken into pieces, but tied together 

 into a faggot or bundle large enough to measure about 2 feet in 

 circumference at the ligature. The water is kept boiling till the bark 

 separates from the twigs. While this is being done, a bushel oi oats 

 must be roasted, a few at time, on a large iron stove or hot platf ; and 



