April 2, IdOS.] AgricilUural Gazette of N.S.W. 273 



Abies hracteata is the most remarkable of all the .Silver Firs. Its strict but statelj' 

 habit, its massive deep-green foliage, its singular oones, and especially its extremely 

 restricted habitat, have invested it with an esjjecial interest b(jth for l)otanists and for 

 liortieulturists. Its only known habitat is on the outer western ridge of the Santa 

 Lucia Mountains in South California, where at the jjresent time "it grows only in a few 

 isolated groves scattered along the moist l)ottoms of canons, usually at elevations of 

 •about 3,0LI0 feet above sea-level." — (Veitch's Manual, p. 497.) 



It should be hardy in the cooler parts of New South Wales. 



(4.) A. cephalonica, Loudon. "Mount Enos Fir." "Greek Fir." 



A stately, medium-sized tree, growing in Greece at elevations ranging 

 from L'.oOO to 5,000 feet. 



It is hardy over the greater part of Great Britain, and steps should be 

 taken to thoroughly test it in the colder parts of New 8outh Wales. 



(5.) ^1. cilicica, Carr. " Cilician Fir." 



This inhabits the mountain system of Asia Minor, known under the 



general name of Taui'us. It lias a vertical range of 1,000 to 6,500 feet. 



Veitch's Manual states : — 



The precise limits of its distribution have not yet been ascertained ; these limits 

 may, Iiowever, be assumed to be nearly conterminous with those of the Cedar of 

 Lel)anon, with which it is associated wherever met with. 



That being so, this )Silver Fir should flourish in many parts of New 

 South Wales. 



(().) A. coiicolor, Lindl., and Gordon. (Picea concolor, Gordon.) "American 

 White Fir." " California Silver Fir." 



This Fir has an extensive range west of the Rocky Mountains. It is 

 common on most of the mountain ranges of California, between 3,500 and 

 8,000 feet, and therefore it may be expected to succeed in oiu' coldest moun- 

 tain regions. It is a specially handsome species. 



(7.) A.Jtrma, Sieb and Zucc. "Japanese Silver Fir." 



The largest and handsomest of the Japanese species. It is found in the 

 warmest parts of Japan and Corea. It does onl}" fairly well in the Botanic 

 Gardens, Sydney. 



In Japan this tree is called " Uro-Siro," signifying that the leaves are 

 white beneath, and also " Sjura-Momi," ineaning White or Silver Fir. 



(8.) A. Nordmanniana, Spacli. " Nordmann's Silver Fir." Bot. Mag. 

 t. 6992. 



A beautiful species from the Trans-Caucasian region, well known in some of 

 our mountain regions, but not as frequently planted as its great merits demand. 



It does fairly well in the Sydney Botanic Gardens. In Mount Wilson, 

 for example, it is one of the loveliest trees imaginable. 



M 19 (Sydney Botanic Gardens). 



(9.) A. religiosa, Schlecht. " Sacred Fir," because branches are used for 

 decoration of chui^ches. Bot. Mnq. t. 6753. 



Native of Mexico, and often at a considerable elevation. It is the most 

 southern species of the genus, is tender in England, and would probably 

 succeed in many parts of New South Wales. 



