262 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



glauca being the well known Colorado Blue Spruce. Because of its 

 lovely blue color it is an extremely popular evergreen, but although 

 lacking this merit of color, P. Engelmanni is just as much a favorite. 



There is a style of growth it has which differs from Pungens; 

 the shoots are more upright, giving a conical appearance to the tree, 

 which is well represented in the specimen photographed. There is 

 a deep green to the foliage which is pleasing; and to many persons 

 the fact of the absence of the prickly rigidity of foliage possessed by 

 P. Pungens is much in its favor. It may be that before many years 

 there will be more of P. Engelmanni planted than there have been. 

 The blue color of pungens has caused it to lead in plantings, rather 

 to the neglect of Engelmanni, and to the loss of many a collection not 

 possessing it. 



This evergreen is wild over a large extent of territory. Besides 

 Colorado, Utah, Montana and Idaho, it is on the Pacific Coast as well. 

 Its accepted common name is Engelmann Spruce. 



The Spruces are readily distinguished from the Firs by their 

 cones, which are drooping in habit, while those of the Firs are borne 

 erect. In addition to this, those of the Spruces persist through the 

 Winter, while those of the Firs fall apart as soon as ripe, these being^ 

 good distinguishing characters. 



Gardeners recognize as a good feature of the Engelmann Spruce 

 that it is not particular as to situation; any ordinary one suits it. It 

 does not ask a choice spot, nor does it ask shelter in Winter. 



Those well acquainted with the Engelmann Spruce say it will be 

 more popular than pungens in years to come, being of a more lasting 

 nature than the other, for old trees of pungens fail to keep of as good 

 shape as Engelmann does. — ^From "Florists Exchange." 



PROTECTING EVERGREENS FROM SNOW 



The disfigurement of evergreen trees by the weight of snow they 

 receive in Winter is. unfortunately, too common a sight, and it is 

 the cause of much regret that means had not been taken to prevent 

 it. When heavy snows have bent the branches out of place the shak- 

 ing of them to dislodge the weight will enable many to regain their 

 proper position, but this work would not have been necessary if a 

 little other work had been done earlier in the season. This consists of 

 tying in the branches by passing a few strands of string or rope around 

 them before snow comes. To do this requires but a few minutes, not 

 nearly as many as shaking the snow off does, and all damage is 

 averted. In nurseries where blocks of Arborvitaes, Retinosporas and 

 similiar trees are liable to damage, the men are often sent to relieve 

 the trees, not once, but several times through a winter. It would not 

 take nearly as much time for a man or two with balls of string, to go 

 over the whole blocks before snow comes, and to make the trees 

 secure. There are some evergreens that are not as hardy as others and 



