JANUARY. 
7 
then taking place in all the trees of the wood, the alteration 
in these is scarcely observable. 
C — Will you mention the principal of our resinous ever- 
greens ? 
jP. — The white Pine ( Pinus Strohus J, usually called 
by way of eminence. Pine ; the Hemlock f P. Canadensis J, 
the Spruce f P. Nigra, and P. Alba ), the Balsam or Fir 
( P. Balsamea J, and the Tamarack f P. Pendula J, There 
are others, but little known except to botanists. Of these 
the pine is the most valuable, as from the ease and smooth- 
ness with which it is worked, added to its large and straight 
growth, it is in great request for sawing into boards. 
C. — There is not much pine growing in our neighbour- 
hood ; but I have seen some very large logs drawn out to 
Smith's mill. Moore told me the other day that he was 
then going in for a pine-log six feet in diameter : he had 
three yoke of oxen attached to his sled. 
F, — That must have been one of unusual size. 
C, — The pine makes a prettier appearance than the 
other species ; the diverging fascicles of leaves give it more 
the appearance of a deciduous tree, by making the surface 
more irregular : and it is not so conical as the others. 
F, — Tastes differ : you do not then admire the conical 
form of the evergreens ? 
C. — Perhaps a prejudice against the whole genus, on 
account of the general barrenness of the land where they 
grow, has prevented my seeing the beauty which they really 
possess ; though a tall and slender balsam is certainly a 
very beautiful object. The inspired prophet considers the 
fir an emblem of beauty ; instead of the thorn shall come 
up the fir tree — but of course it is not the same species 
as ours. 
P. — The spruce is the most valuable after the pine, for 
