COMPARATIVE VALUE OF EXOTIC CONIFERS IX BRITAIN. 259 



have used tlie best quality of silver fir tiniber produced in this 

 country, and with satisfactory results. It is excellent for use in 

 connection with sluices and dams, or for lining the banks of streams 

 and rivulets. Except the larch, we may say that the silver fir is 

 second to none of the firs that have been introduced for upwards 

 of one hundred years for the value of the timber which it produces. 

 It is a native of Central and Southern Europe, and introduced 

 to this country in the 16th century, but the exact date is 

 unknown. 



26. A. Finsapo (Spanish Silver Fir).— The prickly short foliage, 

 extreme density and rigidity, combined with compact gi-owth 

 and unique appearance, at once distinguish this from all other 

 silver firs. In favourable circumstances few trees are more 

 ornamental and effective ; but to see it in its beauty it must be 

 ])lanted singly or sufficiently far apart from others so that the 

 branches may have sufficient room for full development. It is most 

 atti-active during late spring or early summer, for then the young 

 growths contrast finely with the older foliage, the glaucous and 

 remarkably stiff" leaves forming a regular compact cone of the 

 finest colour. Regarding the quality of timber produced in this 

 country I can say little ; it closely resembles, both in colour and 

 texture, that of the silver fir ; but the examples which came 

 into our hands were not sufficiently matured for a decided state- 

 ment to be given. The average rate of growth of Abies Pinsapo 

 under favourable conditions is 14 inches annually, while in one 

 instance at least we have known it to produce 30 feet of timber in 

 an equal number of years. A native of Spain. Introduced in 

 1839. 



27. A. polita. — Introduced in 1861 from Japan. This is one 

 of the handsomest and hardiest of the Japanese conifers, and one 

 that is in great demand for ornamental planting, but its slow 

 growth will debar it from ranking as a profitable timber tree. 

 The foliage is of a pale green colour, which forms a striking contrast 

 in early spring with the reddish-brown globose-shaped buds. 



28. A. Smiihiana (Himalayan Fir) is one of the most distinct 

 and beautiful of the genus. Its graceful pyramidal habit is 

 rendered strikingly beautiful by the slender terminal and lateral 

 branchlets being pendulous to a greater extent, perhaps, than 

 those of any other conifer, not excepting the Deodar. Since its 

 introduction it has been widely spread over the country as an 

 ornamental tree, proving hardy in most districts, although, in 



