go THE PLANT WORLD. 



insipidly sweet, seemingly without resin, and very unlike the pun- 

 gent sweetness of the one-seeded species. It is eaten by bears and 

 other mammals, as well as by birds. The berries contain from 

 one to four bony, angular seeds, usually two or three, of the same 

 size as those of its one-seeded relative. Fifty berries that were 

 examined gave a symmetrical curve, i. c: 



3 berries contained no seeds. 

 12 " " I seed apiece. 



20 " " 2 seeds " 



12 " " 3 seeds " 



3 " "4 seeds " 



Unlike its congener, it bore an abundant crop of seeds this sea- 

 son. . Several bushels would often hang upon a single tree. This 

 light blue mass, distributed about the periphery of the crown, gives 

 a strikingly unique as well as handsome effect. This is heightened 

 by myriads of tiny white specks upon the foliage, peculiar to the 

 older trees of this species. These are bits of hardened resin 

 exuded by the single resin duct on the back of each leaf. 



The season of ripening seems to be variable. A certain localitv 

 was observed, where the berries turned reddish and fell as early 

 as September. Some fell later, but the majority seemed to cling 

 firmly as late as the middle of December. 



The bark resembles an alligator skin, and at once distinguishes 

 it from all other junipers. One seeing it for the first time would 

 not question its identity. This cross-wise checking of the bark 

 is characteristic even at tender seedling age. Branches less than 

 one inch thick usually slough off their cuticles in the form of 

 scales, revealing a skin that is perfectly smooth and of a yew-like 

 red. Where both species make young growth together this serves 

 as a secondary distinguishing mark. The primary one naturally 

 will be color, which is quite remarkably constant within the species. 

 The one-seeded species is a pretty olive green, while the alligator's 

 namesake is an exceedingly handsome bright blue. The two 

 growing side by side give a color variation not excelled by any 

 other conifers, the Colorado blue spruce included. With age, the 

 blue spruce often acquires much dark green, approaching the con- 

 stantly green one-seed. In December, the staminate trees of both 



