evergreen ornamental trees. 
265 
placed singly upon the branches, instead of being collected 
in little bundles or parcels of two, three, or five, as is the case 
in all Pines. They generally grow in a more conical man- 
ner than the latter, and in ornamental plantations owe their 
beauty in most cases, more to their symmetrical regularity 
of growth, than to picturesque expression. 
The Balsam, or Balm of Gilead Fir, (A. balsamea ,) some- 
times also called the American Silver Fir, is one of the most 
ornamental of our native evergreens. It is found most abun- 
dantly in Maine, and Nova Scotia, but is scattered more or 
less on the mountain tops, and in cold swamps, through 
various other parts of the Union. At Pine Orchard, near the 
Catskill Mountain-house, it flourishes well, though not seen 
below the elevation of 1,800 feet. When standing singly, it 
forms a perfect pyramid of fine dark green foliage, 30 or 40 
feet high, regularly clothed from the bottom to the top. The 
leaves, about half or three-fourths of an inch long, are silvery 
white’on the under surface, though dark green above ; and are 
inserted both on the sides and top of the branches. It is one 
of the most beautiful evergreens for planting in grounds near 
the house, and is perhaps more cultivated for that purpose, 
than any other in the Union. The cones, which are four 
or five inches long, like those of the European Silver Fir 
point upwards. However small the plants of this Fir may 
may be, they are still interesting, as they display the same 
symmetry as full grown trees. The deep green colour of the 
verdure of the Balm of Gilead Fir is retained unchanged in 
all its beauty through the severest winters, which causes it 
to contrast agreeably with the paler tints of the Spruces. 
On the trunk of trees of this species, are found small vesicles 
or blisters, filled with a liquid resin, which is extracted and 
34 
