152 The Journal of Forestry, 



possession; and, having carefully examined tlieni all, we have no 

 hesitation in affirming that for all garden purposes the three plants 

 which have been mentioned are perfectly distinct. We speak of 

 their vegetative organs only, not having had the opportunity to 

 examine cones of the recent acquisition, Al)ic8 Parryana. We found 

 that the first of tlie trio to grow in spring — a fatal defect in our 

 English climate — was Ahics Englananni, which commenced to grow 

 so early that all its young growth was completely killed by the 

 May frosts, and this happens so constantly year after year in the 

 climate of Knap Hill, that this plant is utterly worthless as an 

 ornamental or useful tree, never growing beyond the state of a 

 miserable scrub. The next to grow was Abies Menziesii, which we 

 found a few days ago (June 11) with its young growth pretty well 

 advanced and perfectly healthy, having been developed since the 

 occurrence of the frosts which cut up A. EngUmanni. Latest of all 

 was Abies Parryana, which had scarcely yet made any development 

 of its young growth, from which fact it may be concluded that it is 

 practically safe against danaage from spring frosts, since it remains 

 quiescent till the risk of spoliation from these is past. We have 

 used the name Abies Parryana because the plant appears to be 

 sufficiently distinct to bear a separate designation, its aspect being 

 quite different from that of the other two, irrespective of colour 

 (which varies in degree in different plants), being smaller in its parts 

 and much less coarse-looking than either ; while it certainly has not 

 the deflexed footstalks so conspicuous in A. Menziesii, though it 

 has the pungent mucro, with somewhat less rigidity, perhaps, 

 characteristic of that plant." Abies Parryana is undoubtedly the 

 hardiest and most elegant of the varieties of A. Menziesii, even if 

 it does not prove to be a distinct species of fir, and collectors of 

 choice coniferee, as well as those who are planting for ornament, 

 would do well to look after it. It is not at all desirable to add to 

 the complication of names amongst coniferce, and when a name is 

 once applied, to a species it ought never to be altered, except in 

 very urgent and exceptional cases, when it can be proved beyond a 

 doubt that it will be an advantage to science to change the name. 

 The same should be the case in regard to varieties of a species; 

 but it cannot at all times be so easily kept in view, owing to the 

 influence of climate, soil, and other external agencies, which may, 

 and often do, alter the character of a variety so that " its own father 

 would not know it ! " so that the utmost caution should always be 

 taken in naming a variety as new, when by removal to another locality, 

 with a different soil and climate, it may turn out to be only "an old 

 friend with a new face." 



