COMPARATIVE VALUE OF EXOTIC CONIFERS IN BRITAIN". 211 



moist soil, and when luxuriating in such in this country, its 

 appearance warrants the name it bears, being lovely at all seasons. 



P. halsamea (the Balsam Fir). — Introduced in 1697. Habitat, 

 Canada, Nova Scotia, and North-eastern United States. Though 

 neither an ornamental nor timber tree of much value, the resin 

 which it produces in abundance furnishes the Canada Balsam 

 extensively used in medicine and manufactures. 



P. hracteata (the Santa Lucia Silver Fir). — Introduced in 1853. 

 Habitat, California. A tree of great height, but proportionally 

 rather small in girth. The branches are spreading, the lower 

 ones decumbent \ and its exquisite form and beautiful appearance 

 make it an acquisition to the lover of ornamental conifers. 



P. cephalonica (the Cephalonian Silver Fir). — Introduced in 

 1824. Habitat, Greece. Its prickly-pointed leaves and dilated 

 petioles render this a very distinct variety. I find it a very free 

 growing ornamental tree, and commercially valuable. 



P. grcmdis (the Tall Silver Fir). — Introduced in 1831. Habitat, 

 California and British Columbia. I find this not only a grand 

 ornamental tree, but the most rapid grower of all the Silver Firs. 

 In its native habitat, in low moist situations, it grows to 280 feet 

 in height, and often girths 21 feet. Such enoi'mous growth may 

 well tempt us to plant it more frequently. 



P. lasiocarpa (the California Silver Fir). — Introduced in 1851. 

 Habitat, California, where it attains a height of 100 to 150 feet. 

 It is a general favourite with planters, and, both as regards orna- 

 ment and value, is equal to almost any of the Silver Firs. This 

 elegant Silver Fir is also known as P. concolor, P. Lowiana, and 

 P. Parsonsii. 



P. magnifica (the Stately Silver Fir). — Inti'oduced in 1851 by 

 John Jeffrey, collector for the Oregon Association. Habitat, 

 Northern California and Oregon. A grand acquisition to any 

 collection, and deserves a trial as a timber tree, seeing it reaches 

 a height of 250 feet in its native country, 



P. nohilis (the Noble Silver Fir). — Introduced in 1831. Habitat, 

 California and Oregon, where it attains a height of 200 to 300 

 feet, and a girth of 12 to 18 feet. It is a veiy hardy species, and 

 thrives well in this country. When growing on peaty or rich 

 alluvial soils, it assumes a peculiar richness of colour, and is a 

 favourite with the ornamental planter. 



P. Nordmanniana (Nordmann's Silver Fir). — Introduced in 

 1848. Habitat, the Crimea and Caucasus. Being later in starting 



