ASIATIC CONIFERS. '^ 



CitYPTOMKRiA Japoniga xana — Dwarf Japctu Cedar This appcai-s to be notbiiig 



more llian a variety of the above. It grows uo higher than a bush, and is reported 

 as very pretty. 



AuiES 1-Jkuxoxiana. — This very beautiful tree is closely allied to A. Canadensis, 

 but may readily be distinguished by its much larger foliage. It grows about seventy 

 to eitjhty feet liii,di, with s])reading, pendulous branches. Those who know and admire 

 our common Hemlock (and who does not ?) will be delighted with this exquisite tree. 

 It may be asked, Is this tree hardy ? In England, to my own knowledge, it sufters 

 from cold; but this, I think, is more owing to the want of ripeness of the wood in 

 the fall than to the degree of cold ; here, with us, the wood will be more thoroughly 

 matured, and it will stand more cold; and should it require a slight protection while 

 young, what lover of trees will refuse it? Major E. Madden* says of it: "Dr. 

 lIooKiiR has recently found it in Sikhim, forming a narrow belt of 1,000 feet, confined 

 to very narrow gorges between 9,000 and 10,000 feet, on the immediate (south) 

 flanks of Kunchinjinga, probably the loftiest peak in the world, being about 28,000 

 feet. In the innermost valleys the limits are 8,500 and 10,500. The Gorkhalee 

 name is " Thlngia''' or " Tingoorisulla ;" the Bhotiya, " SemadoongP Dr. Hooker 

 considers it to be by far the most beautiful of Sikhim pines, whether as an individual 

 tree, in groups, or in forest masses. One specimen was twenty-seven feet in girth at 

 the height of five fleet." It is also indigenous to other parts of the Himalayas, and 

 found on pretty high elevations. 



Abies I'ixduow ; syn. Picea riXDROW. — This I may safely call one of the finest 

 Silver Firs in the world. Our own north-west coast, with California, produce some 

 noble trees — as A. grandis, nobilis, amabilis, Douglasii, &:c. — trees Avhich may 

 well associate with this, but who shall decide as the most beautiful ? Dr. Hoffmeis- 

 TER records instances of Pindroio which he met on several of the lofty passes between 

 Toonguath and Gungotree, which he estimated from thirty to forty feet in circum- 

 ference, and about two hundred feet in height. In a young state this tree has been 

 confused with Webbiana, but botanists who have studied them in their native habitat, 

 describe them as quite distinct. Major E. Madden writes :* "Dr. Griffith describes 

 Abies densa, abundant on all the northern mountains of Bhotan, in terms which lead 

 us to conclude this, and especially Webbiana, to be the species intended. He calls 

 it Hhe Black Pine;' alludes to its 'columnar' form, and says it is 'the marked 

 indicator of great elevations,' fixing its lower limit at 8,800 feet ; the upper at 12,478, 

 and even 13,000. He notes ' many pines dead as if blasted' — 'as usual, many blasted 

 from lightning;' characters and limits well suited to include both; the Pindroio 

 generally commencing at about 8,000 feet, and Wehbina, exclusively, attaining 

 12,000 or 13,000, It is possible, however, that the Pindrow may bo absent from 

 Bhotan ; Dr. Thompson does not recognize them as really distinct species. There 

 can, however, be no doubt that in habitat, and in several marked peculiarities, there 

 are constant differences ; and between what we term a species and a variety thus 

 ^ characterized, the distinction seems suflicieutly wide to entitle the latter to 



J.S *Jouraal of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India. Vol. YII., part I. 



