The Evergreen Trees or Colorado. 29 
B. Leaves of viigorous lower branches 4.5-7.5 c. m. (l%-3 in.) long. The two 
resin Itu'bes close to the lower surface. Cones green, yellow or purple. 
2. Abies concolor. 
BALSAM RIR, alpine RIR. 
(Abies lasiocarpa. Nutt.) 
(Plate VII.) 
This tree is distributed throughout the mountainous parts of western 
North America. In Colorado it frequents the high mountain siopes and sum¬ 
mits. It is a medium sized tree seldom over 100 feet tall, in this state, and 
two feet in diameter. 
The leaves on the cone-bearing branches are usually short, stiff, and 
curved upward and tipped wiith sharp points. The cones are frequently al¬ 
most black in color and are usually smeared with pitch. The bark on young 
trunks is quite smooth with numerous transverse scars, but on old trunks 
becomes cracked and scaly. 
The wood of this tree is considered of little value by the lumbermen, as 
it lacks strength and durability and is adapted only for the coarsest quality 
of lumber. It is used for fuel to some extent. The writer found, in the cut¬ 
ting of timber from one forest reserve, that this fir was being removed to 
make iroom for the more valuable Engelmann spruce with which it was grow¬ 
ing. This fir is planted to some extent as an ornamental tree in the northern 
United States and Europe. 
WHITE RIR. 
(Abies concolor, Lindl.) 
The white fir, with its regular whorls of frond-like foliage masses, is a 
very Ihandsome tree. During the first year or two the leaves are similar In 
color to those of a good specimen of the silver spruce, which it often rivals in 
beauty. It is a much larger tree when fully grown than the preceding 
species. It is the only fir within the arid regions of the Great Basin and of 
southern New Mexico and Arizona. In ColOirado the white fir is found only 
in the southern half of the state extending to the Pike’s Peak region. Some 
handsome specimens of moderate size are to be seen in North Cheyenne 
Canon, near Colorado Springs. The leaves are considerably longer than 
those of the balsam fir and the cones are larger and usually lighter in color. 
The wood, w'hile coarse grained and not strong nor durable, is sometimes 
used for lumber of which packing cases are made. The tree is planted to 
some extent for ornament and is worthy a trial, as well grown specimens are 
pleasing in form and color and may serve to introduce variety in the ever¬ 
green pilantings in parks and about the house. 
Juniperaceae — juniper family. 
The members of the juniper family are distinguished from 
those of the pine family principally by the fruit. Thus, instead 
of forming a dry cone composed of woody or parchment-like scales* 
the junipers possess a berry-like fruit, in the pulp of which the 
seeds are imbedded. These berries, however, were at first much 
like the very young cones of the pine family. The scales of which 
they are composed are enlarged at the outer end and are com¬ 
paratively few in number. After the ovules are fertilized by pollen 
from the staminate flowers, which in the junipers occur on distinct 
trees, the scales grow together and form the so-called juniper 
