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BOTANY. 
Pinus (Abies) balsamea. —Common name Balsam, or Balsam Fir. 
It is identical with the one growing in the eastern States in such abundance. We found it 
only on the more elevated points of the Sandia, San Francisco, and Sierra Nevada mountains. 
It was not seen by us at the Cajon Pass of the Sierra Nevada, but I have no doubt it exists on 
the more elevated peaks of that region. Near Sonora and Downieville, in California, it grows 
to a great height, equalling that of the sugar and yellow pines. It forms a beautiful tree; but, 
from the perishable nature of the wood, it can scarcely be used for railroad purposes, except in 
places where it is protected from the disorganizing influences of the weather. The process of 
kyanization would probably have the efiect to render it more valuable. It is an old and well- 
known species. In places where it abounds it is used for various building purposes, where not 
exposed to the weather, for which it is admirably adapted by its straight axis and beautiful 
taper. The balsam, which is an exudation from the bark, is medicinal, and held in high 
esteem as a remedy for burns and various other diseases. 
Pinus brachyptera. —Called Yelloiv Pine in some regions, and Pitch Pine in others. 
This is quite a different tree from either of the pines so called in the Eastern States. It is 
very common all over New Mexico and California. This tree is most generally associated with 
Douglas spruce, first making its appearance on the mountains between the Pecos and the Rio 
Grande. It grows abundantly about Santa Fe, in New Mexico, and was described first by Dr. 
Engelmann, from specimens collected by Dr. Wislizenus. Dr. Torrey (Report of Sitgreaves’ 
Expedition, p. 113) mentions that Dr. Engelmann’s P. Macrophylla was found at the Zuili 
mountains. He says, however, it does not agree well with Engelmann’s description. We found 
only this one so common in all that region, and suspect it is the one to which he has reference. 
It occurs at the Sandia and Organ mountains, east of the Rio Grande, at the Mimbres mount¬ 
ains, Sierra Mogoyon, San Francisco, Aztec Pass, and on the Sierra Nevada, near Mount San 
Bernardino. In every region of California, also, where the Douglas spruce is known to exist, 
this tree grows. I think, however, that it is found more abundantly in the interior of Califor¬ 
nia, along the spurs and heights of the Sierra Nevada, than along the Coast range, where the 
Douglas spruce is the most abundant. In all these places it forms a beautiful timber tree. East 
of the Sierra Nevada it rises to the height of one hundred feet, with a diameter of five or six 
feet. On the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, like the spruce and other pines, it grows 
much larger and taller. In favorable situations, it equals in height the other pines of those 
regions. 
The wood of this tree is soft and easily worked, and varieties of it are equal in beauty and 
utility to the wood of any other pine. About Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Anton Chico, San Miguel, 
and all the towns on the upper Rio Grande, and Pecos, it forms their principal lumber. It 
exists so abundantly on the Mimbres, the Organ mountains, and on the mountains further east, 
bordering the Pecos, as to supply San Elizario, El Paso, Dona Ana, and all the lower towns of 
the Rio Grande, with lumber. It is also used in every part of California for building and other 
domestic purposes. On account of the softness of the wood, it is thought it would not answer 
as well for railroad ties as the Douglas spruce. The accompanying profile, on which I have 
attempted to illustrate the relative ranges of these trees above the level of the sea, approximates 
pretty nearly the truth. Although the range of this pine is very intimately associated with the 
Douglas spruoe, yet, on reference to the profile, we shall see that it is found at a greater altitude, 
although the two species frequently overlap each other on the sides of mountain slopes. The 
Douglas spruce occupies the lower, and this species the upper portions of the mountain chains. 
I am not aware that a good figure of this tree has ever been made. It was first brought to the 
notice of botanists and the public by Dr. Engelmann, in Wislizenus’ Report, in 1848. 
