20 HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES. 



species. Where it does well, the growth is long and stout, 

 but too frequently the tips of the branches are bitten by frost 

 in early spring, and when this has occurred several times the 

 tree wears a by no means pleasing appearance. Usually the 

 tree does well and escapes frost-bite when planted in cold 

 and stiffish soil and facing north or east ; but the finest speci- 

 men I have seen, and from which these notes were compiled, 

 was growing in damp alluvial deposit and within sea in- 

 fluence.^ It had attained to a height of 58 feet in thirty-two 

 years, and contained fully 37 feet of timber. On several 

 occasions I have examined home-grown timber of the tree in 

 question, but it was soft, and did not last long when used out 

 of doors. 



A. Webbiana Pindlro^fl/. {Synonyms: — Picea Pin- 

 droiv, Royle; Pinus Pindroiu, Royle; Picea Pindrow, Loudon.) 

 Eastern Himalayas. — This cannot be included as a perfectly 

 hardy tree, for even in warm situations by the sea coast it not 

 unfrequently wears anything but a robust and healthy ap- 

 pearance. The stem is tall and straight, with short, spreading 

 branches, and leaves that are very variable both in size and 

 arrangement. In adult trees the leaves are arranged in two 

 rows, and are from 2} to 2\ inches long, while on young 

 specimens they are thickly and regularly disposed on all the 

 branches, and about i inch long. They are usually bifid, 

 blackish-green above, and with two greyish-white lines be- 

 neath. Cones usually oval, 4I inches long by ih inches 

 diameter, and for the greater part produced singly on the 

 three top tiers of branches. They are, when of full size, of a 

 deep purple colour, and highly ornamental to the tree. 



The leading shoot, v.'hich is frequently 1 4 inches in diameter, 

 readily yields to finger pressure, and is welted or thickly 

 covered with longitudinally arranged raised surfaces like 

 whipcord. The buds are remarkably large and prominent, 



^ Both this species and the variety have attained to large dimensions at Penrhyn 

 Castle, North Wales. The collection of coniferous trees in the park at Penrhyn 

 is particularly rich, including large specimens of Cunni>ighamia sinensis, Cepha- 

 lotaxtis peduncidala fastigiata, as well as many of the rarer species oi Abies, Picea, 

 and Pinus. 



