MAY. 141 



observe, that the result seems to us very doubtful. That the New- 

 Forest wall grow Deodar timber equal to the Himalayan is a question 

 wliich time only can prove. We think that the evidence which the last 

 winter afibrds is against such an inference. Hundreds of young 

 Deodars are now denuded of their leaves, and are at tliis time as naked 

 as the Larch. This must materially check the progi'ess of the tree 

 (supposing the timber w^hen fuUy gi'own to be equal to native wood, 

 w^hich w^e much doubt), and goes far to prove that our seasons- are 

 neither sufficiently dry nor hot enough at all times to ripen the wood 

 of the Deodar sufficiently to resist a degree of cold w^hich may prove a 

 barrier to its successful cultivation as a timber tree in Britain. 



The specimen figm-ed w^as planted in 1835, and w^as then about 18 

 inches high ; it is now 35 feet high, the cncumference of the stem at 

 three feet from the ground being four feet. There are taller plants at 

 Dropmore than tliis one ; one planted in 1831 would have been by this 

 time nearly 50 feet high, but for an accident which occurred a few 

 years ago, and broke several feet off the top. 



XI. ABIES WEBBIAXA. THE PURPLE-COXED SILVER FIR. 



Another noble Pine fi'omthe Himalayas,w^hereit attains a great size, reach- 

 ing upwards of 120 feet in height, with a trunk of corresponding dimen- 

 sions ; the leaves are from 1 to 2 inches in length, dark gi'een on the upper 

 surface, w^th a white stripe beneath ; the cones are of a rich purple 

 colour, bespangled w4th globules of transparent resin, w^hich adds greatly 

 to its appearance as an ornamental tree. A dye of beautiful violet colour 

 is extracted from the young cones. 



Webb's Silver Fir is found in great abundance in Bhotan, Sikkim, 

 and other districts of the great Himalayan chain — rarely, however, below 

 an elevation of 9,500 feet, but forming vast w^oods at 12,000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. The timber w^as formerly reputed valuable and 

 fragrant ; but later experiments show" it to be neither fragrant nor of much 

 value for building purposes. It is, however, an imposing and striking 

 tree, from its stiff mode of gi'owi;h, and the beauty of its cones. In damp 

 and exposed situations the young buds are subject to be injured by the 

 frosts of autumn before they are fidly ripened, or late in spring, after 

 the young shoots start ; this sometimes gives the tree a scrubby appear- 

 ance. A dry situation is preferable for it, to insure moderate gro\\i:h 

 and mature w^ood, and it wall thrive w^ell on the outskirts of plantations, 

 in cold situations, where it w^ould be partially protected, until it had 

 attained some age. At Dropmore the tree growls vigorously and produces 

 its rich-looking purple cones in abundance. 



THE LONDON NURSERIES. 



Amongst the leading " Sights of London," the principal nurseries open 

 to many a source of great attraction ; and those who have a fondness 

 for plants and their culture seldom visit the metropolis without seeing 

 one or more of these vast estabUsliments. If it were possible to ascertain 



