2G0 TRANSACTIONS OF KOYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



common -with many conifers, it commences to grow before spring 

 frosts are past. It forms a remarkably handsome lawn or park 

 specimen of neat conical habit, well furnished with bright green 

 drooping branchlets. The timber, in its native country, is little 

 thought of, being extremely soft, clean and easily worked, biit 

 perishable. Sir J. D. Hooker, in his " Himalayan Journals," says 

 that this spruce " has white wood, employed ior posts and beams." 

 The quality of wood grown in Britain can hardly be superior to 

 that produced in its native country, yet my observations on wood 

 grown at Penrhyn Castle, in North Wales, lead me to believe it 

 is equal to wood of the common sj^ruce, but weightier and firmer, 

 in trees of an equal age. Whatever the quality of timber pro- 

 duced by the Himalayan Fir may yet turn out when that of 

 mature trees is tried, we know not; but certainly as an orna- 

 mental conifer it is one of the most valuable ever introduced. 

 A native of the Himalaya Mountains, and introduced into 

 Scotland in 1818. 



29. A. tsuga (Japanese Hemlock Fir).— This is a distinct and 

 highly ornamental conifer, and one well suited for planting where 

 space is limited. It is somewhat pyramidal in outline, but by no 

 means stiff and harsh, with foliage i-esembling that of the American 

 hemlock spruce, but pleasanter in appearance. Being hardy, this 

 conifer is sure to attract much attention when better known. 

 There is a dwarf form called A. tsuga nana, which has been used 

 with good efiect in rock gardening. A native of Japan, and 

 introduced in 1853. 



30. A. Veitchii (Yeitch's Fir). — Introduced from Japan in 1879. 

 It is a beautiful conifer, and found to be perfectly hardy. The 

 leaves are thickly arranged, short, of a deep almost yew-green, 

 but more glossy, and with two distinct silvery lines on the under 

 side. Little can yet be said as to the timber value of this fir, 

 but the young specimens are highly ornamental. 



31. A. Webbiana (Captain Webb's Fir). — This is one of the 

 handsomest denizens of the Himalayas, but unfortunately it 

 is not well suited for general planting in this country, being 

 what is usually termed " sjjring tender." By a careful choice 

 of soil and situation many fine specimens have been reared in 

 almost eveiy part of the British Isles, amply rewarding the 

 trouble taken to grow them by their stately grandeur and distinct 

 appearance. The leaves are of a deep glossy green above, with 

 two broad silvery bands beneath, more intense in colour than 



