74 THE FLORIST. 



becomes fully grown, rise again at the extremities, forming those 

 " lines of beauty" which, taken in connexion with the pleasing cha- 

 racter of its foliage, produce a tree expressive of the graceful and 

 elegant. 



We are informed that the timber of the Hemlock Spruce is not of 

 great value in America, being principally used for in-door work, as 

 it soon decays Avhen exposed to the influence of the weather, arising, 

 no doubt, from the absence of turpentine, of which its wood contains 

 but little. In this respect we consider the tree unworthy of notice, 

 but as an ornamental tree, we submit, with all deference to col- 

 lectors of Coniferse, that the Hemlock Spruce should not be over- 

 looked by their preferring kinds of more recent introduction, which, 

 in many instances, have not much more than novelty to recommend 

 them. 



II. ABIES BRUNONIANA — BRUNONl'S OR THE BUSUY SPRUCE. 



This is a species of rather recent introduction from the Himalayas, 

 where it is found occupying deep valleys, and the flanks of mountain 

 ranges in Nepal, Bhotan, and the Sikkim, at an elevation of from 

 6000 to 10,000 feet above the sea-level. This plant is closely allied 

 to the Hemlock Spruce, from which it differs in having leaves much 

 larger, of a lighter colour, with the white on the underside more dis- 

 tinctly marked. Young trees only are to be seen in British gardens, 

 and they present the same pendulous or weeping habit which charac- 

 terises the Hemlock Spruce. Dr. Hooker considers A. Brunoniana as 

 being " by far the most beautiful of Sikkim Pines, whether as an 

 individual tree, in groups, or in forest masses." It reaches the height 

 of seventy or eighty feet, and forms a bushy, wide-spreading tree, 

 Avith a trunk of great size ; the dimensions of one is described as 

 being twenty- seven feet in circumference at five feet from the ground. 

 In British gardens the plant is considered rather tender ; and in 

 the north of England shoijld have a sheltered situation and a dry 

 soil. In the latitude of London it appears hardy, our own trees not 

 having suffered in the least from the late severe weather. The plant 

 should be well watered in dry weather, as any check Avhen growing 

 causes it to throw off its old leaves, and we thus sometimes see it 

 presenting a naked appearance, which may be avoided when the 

 above is attended to. It forms a well-defined variety among coni- 

 ferous plants. 



III. ABIES MENZIESI — MENZIES' SPRUCE. 



A native of the north-west coast of America. Seeds have been 

 first sent by Douglas to this country. This Spruce attains a consi- 

 derable height, and is remarkable for the glaucous appearance it 

 presents even at a distance. The leaves are of a slight vivid green, 

 with a distinct silvery line on their under-surface, to which the effect 

 above is owing. This species grows in a regular pyramidal form, 

 like the common Spruce ; but its light silvery appearance makes it 

 very distinct, and worth planting extensively, for the contrast it 

 affords to plants of a darker green. 



