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,) sometimes also called the American Silver Fir, is one of the most ornamental of our native evergreens. It is found most abundantly 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

sold, under the name of Balm of Gilead,* for its medicinal virtues.

The European Silver Fir, (A. picea,) strongly resembles, when young, the Balsam Fir. But its leaves are longer and coarser, and the cones are much larger, while it also attains twice or three times the size of the latter. In the forests of Germany, it sometimes rises over 100 feet; and it always becomes a large tree in a favourable soil. It grows slowly during the first twenty years, but afterwards it advances with much more rapidity. It thrives well, and is quite hardy in this country.

The Norway Spruce Fir, (A. communis,†) is by far the handsomest of that division of the Firs called the Spruces. It generally rises with a perfectly straight trunk to the height of from 80 to 150 feet. It is a native, as its name denotes, of the colder parts of Europe, and consequently grows well in the northern states. The branches hang down with a fine graceful curve, or sweep; and although the leaves are much paler than those of the foregoing kinds, yet the thick fringe-like tufts of foliage, which clothe the branches, give the whole tree a rich, dark appearance. The large cones, too, always nearly six inches long, are beautifully pendant, and greatly increase the beauty of an old tree of this kind.

The Norway Spruce is the great tree of the Alps; and as a park tree, to stand alone, we scarcely know a more beautiful one. It then generally branches out quite down to the ground; and its fine, sweeping, feathery branches hang down in the most graceful and pleasing manner. There are some

*The true Balm of Gilead is an Asiatic herb, Amyris gileadensis.

+ Abies exelsa.

superb specimens of this species in various gardens of the middle states, 80 or 100 feet high.

The Black, or Double Spruce, (A. nigra,) sometimes also called the Red Spruce, is very common in the north; and, according to Michaux, forms a third part of the forests of Vermont, Maine, New-Hampshire, as well as New Brunswick and Lower Canada. The leaves are quite short and stiff, and clothe the young branches around the whole surface; and the whole tree, where it much abounds, has rather a gloomy aspect. In the favourable humid black soils of those countries, the Black Spruce grows 70 feet high, forming a fine tall pyramid of verdure. But it is rarely found in abundance farther south, except in swamps, where its growth is much less strong and vigorous. Mingled with other evergreens, it adds to the variety, and the peculiar colouring of its foliage gives value to the livelier tints of other species of Pine and Fir.

The White or Single Spruce, (A. alba,) is a smaller and less common tree than the foregoing, though it is often found in the same situations. The leaves are more thinly arranged on the young shoots, and they are longer and project more from the branches. The colour, however, is a distinguishing characteristic between the two sorts; for while in the Black Spruce it is very dark, in this species it is of a light bluish green tint. The cones are also much larger on the White Spruce tree.

The Hemlock Spruce, or, as it is more commonly called, the Hemlock, (A. canadensis,) is one of the finest and most distinct of this tribe of trees. It is most abundantly multiplied in the extreme northern portions of the Union; and abounds more or less, in scattered groups and thickets,

throughout all the middle states, while at the south it is confined chiefly to the mountains.

It prefers a soil, which, though slightly moist, is less humid than that where the Black Spruce succeeds best; and it thrives well in the deep cool shades of mountain valleys. In the Highlands of the Hudson, it grows in great luxuriance; and in one locality, the sides of a valley near Cro'nest, the surface is covered with the most superb growths of this tree, reaching up from the water's edge to the very summit of the hill, 1,400 feet high, like a rich and shadowy mantle, sprinkled here and there only with the lighter and more delicate foliage of deciduous trees.

The average height of the Hemlock in good soils is about 70 or 80 feet; and when standing alone, or in very small groups, it is one of the most beautiful coniferous trees. The leaves are disposed in two rows on each side of the branches, and considerably resemble those of the Yew, though looser in texture, and livelier in colour. The foliage, when the tree has grown to some height, hangs from the branches in loose pendulous tufts, which give it a peculiarly graceful appearance. When young, the form of the head is regularly pyramidal; but when the tree attains more age, it often assumes very irregular and picturesque forms. Sometimes it grows up in a thick, dense, dark mass of foliage, only varied by the pendulous branches, which project beyond the grand mass of the tree; at others it forms a loose, airy, and graceful top, permeable to the slightest breeze, and waving its loose tufts of leaves to every passing breath of air. In almost all cases, it is extremely ornamental, and we regret that it is not more generally employed in decorating the grounds of our residences. It should be transplanted (like all of this class of trees,) quite early in

the spring, the roots being preserved as nearly entire as possible, and not suffered to become the least dried, before they are replaced in the soil.

The uses of the Fir tree are important. The Norway Spruce Fir furnishes the white deal timber so extensively employed in Europe for all the various purposes of building; and its tall, tapering stems afford fine masts for vessels. The Black Spruce timber is also highly valuable, and is thought by many persons to surpass in excellence that of the Norway Spruce. The young shoots also enter into the composition of the celebrated Spruce beer of this country, a delightful and very healthful beverage. And the Hemlock not only furnishes a vast quantity of the joists used in building frame-houses, but supplies the tanners with an abundance of bark, which, when mixed with that of the oak, is highly esteemed in the preparation of leather.

We regret that the fine evergreen trees both of this country and Europe, which compose the Pine and Fir tribes, have not hitherto received more of the attention of planters. It is inexpressible how much they add to the beauty of a country residence in winter. At that season, when, during three or four months the landscape is bleak and covered with snow, these noble trees, properly intermingled with the groups in view from the window, or those surrounding the house, give an appearance of verdure and life to the scene which cheats winter of half its dreariness. In exposed quarters, also, and in all windy and bleak situations, groups of evergreens form the most effectual shelter at all seasons of the year, while many of them have the great additional recommendation of growing upon the most meagre soils.