Dictionary.net

The name given to several species of trees of the genus Abies. The Norway spruce-fir is A. excelsa, which yields the valuable timber known under the name of white or Christiana deal. The white spruce is the A. alba, which grows in the colder regions of North America. The black spruce-fir is the A. nigra, which is a native of the most inclement regions of North America, and attains the height of 70 or 80 feet, with a diameter of from 15 to 20 inches. Its timber is of great value on account of its strength, lightness, and elasticity. It is employed for the yards of ships, and from the young branches is extracted the essence of spruce, so well known as a useful anti-scorbutic. The red spruce is A. rubra. The hemlock spruce-fir is the A. canadensis, a noble species, rising to the height of 70 or 80 feet, and measuring from 2 to 3 feet in diameter. It grows abundantly near Quebec, in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Vermont, and the upper parts of New Hampshire. The wood is employed for laths, and for coarse in-door work. The bark is exceedingly valuable for tanning.