COMPARATIVE VALUE OF EXOTIC CONIFER.E IN BRITAIN. 247 



of foliiige, silvered on the under side, is one of the most orna- 

 mental that has yet found its way into this country. The 

 foliage is much admired, particularly so in early summer when 

 each twig is terminated with a tuft of golden-green leaves sur- 

 mounted by the darker green of the previous year. The whole 

 contour of Prince Albert's Fir, particularly when grown in suit- 

 able soil — a peaty loam — is gracefully irregular, the long and 

 lithe branches and pendulous branchlets imparting a refined air 

 that never fails to attract attention. For lawn and park planting 

 it is much in request, and may be described as the most beautiful 

 of its class. As a timber tree, Abies Albertiana is not likely to 

 atti'act much attention, at least in this country, although, as ex- 

 hibited at the Forestry Exhibition in Edinburgh, the wood seemed 

 of excellent quality ; and thanks are due to the forester to the 

 Right Hon. J. Inglis of Glencorse, Midlothian, for the jjractical 

 way in which the timber was tested for fencing posts. One of 

 those exhibited had been in the ground five years, and appeared 

 to be little the woi-se. The upward annual growth of this spruce 

 is fairly rapid ; the avex'age of fifteen specimens growing under 

 favourable circumstances being 20 inches. At Hafodunos, in 

 North Wales, one of these trees in thirty-five years produced 48^ 

 feet of wood, or fully 1^ feet per annum. Habitat, Biitish 

 Columbia and Oregon. Introduced in 1851. 



2. A. Alcoquiana^ (Alcock's Fir). — This is one of the most 

 distinct, beautiful, and desirable of Japanese conifers, and one 

 peculiarly well suited for the climate of Britain. Its chief 

 attraction, and that which distinguishes it from all other sjjecies, 

 is the striking and beautiful contrast in colour between the upper 

 and under sides of the leaves ; for, while the former is tinged 

 with a golden hue, the latter is, in the majority of specimens, 

 of a silvery grey. When only a yard in height, this pretty spruce 

 is a model of beauty, the dense habit of growth and pleasing out- 

 line being the admiration of all beholders. Eegaixling its value 

 as a timber tree in this country, it would be hazardous to advance 

 an opinion, too short time having elapsed since its introduction 

 for any specimen to have attained maturity. When better 

 known and more widely diffused, this handsome, hardy, and 

 easily-managed spruce will occupy a front rank in ornamenting 



^ A. Ajanciisis is liere described as A. Alcoquiana. The upper and under 

 sides of the leaves are wrongly described. The silvery, and wliat ap[iears to 

 be the under side, is in reality the upper. — Ed. 



