18 DWAEF AND SLOW-GROWING CONIFERS 



8.ttempt to send up a leader, but its side branches are 

 slowly and almost imperceptibly extending laterally. 

 The annual growth of the branchlets is from -J to 1 inch, 

 and the leaves are shorter than those of the type, being 

 from f to f inch long. 



A. balsamea. Miller. 



The balsam fir is a native of North-East America, and 

 was introduced to Europe by Bishop Compton in 1697. 

 In its native habitat it varies from a tree of 60 to 70 feet 

 high to a semi-prostrate mat on the timber line. 



A. balsamea, var. Hudsonica, Sargent and Engelmann 

 ("Transactions of the Academy of Science," St. 

 Louis, 1878). 

 Syn.:^. Hudsoni, Carr. (" Conif.," 271). 



A. Fraseri Hudsonica, Carr. (" Conif.," ii. 200). 

 According to Engelmann, this is a sterile dwarf form 

 found above the timber line on the White Mountains in 

 New Hampshire. It is uncertain (Elwes and Henry, vol. iv., 

 p. 804; Sargent, "Garden and Forest," 1897) whether 

 this is identical with A. Hudsoni of gardens; the latter, 

 according to Sargent, is of unknown origin and probably a 

 depauperate form of A. balsamea. 



Beissner (p. 465) describes this form as a broad black- 

 green bush, which remains absolutely low-growing, spread- 

 ing over the ground. Leaves short, broad and flat; upper 

 side black-green, under side blue-green. Beissner also 

 describes (p. 465) another form — 



A. balsamea, var. nana, Beissner (ii. 179). 

 Syn. : var. globosa, Hort. 



According to his description, the only marked differences 

 between these forms is the colour of the leaves, which in 

 var. nana are lighter green above, and blue-white, not 

 blue-green, below; var. nana's leaves being nearer in 

 appearance to the type than those of var. Hudsonica. 



If Beissner's descriptions are correct, all the specimens 

 that I have come across in cultivation are var. nana^ 



