A. LOWIANA 77 



and are unable to obtain it elsewhere, an excellent 

 opportunity is afforded to us in instituting com- 

 parisons between the A. Lowiana and the A. Concolor, 

 and if you want to drag in another and make con- 

 fusion more confounded, the A. Lasiocarpa can be 

 called in to make a third. With this latter tree we 

 have dealt with in its own place, and tried to show 

 that the likeness is merely a nominal mistake and 

 devoid of any reality. 



As between A. Lowiana and Concolor, our instruc- 

 tions are that the apex of the leaf in the Lowiana is 

 notched and grooved, while A. Concolor is not notched 

 and not grooved. This, if it holds good and is subject 

 to no saving clauses, equivocations, or exceptions, is 

 a clear and final distinction, and one moreover within 

 easy scope of the ability of the humblest observers. 



The A. Lowiana belongs to a more northern tree 

 region than the A. Concolor. The A. Concolor has 

 the longer leaf, and both indulge in leaves with inward 

 curls of a sickle-shaped form, and looking as if they 

 had been subjected to an application of the curling- 

 tongs from the hands of an expert barber. A habit 

 which, as haj been explained, saves them from 

 exposing so much leaf surface to the sun. 



The Concolor is of a more glaucous colour, with a 

 thicker distribution of leaves upon branchlets than 

 the Lowiana. Both seem tolerably good doers in 

 our climate. 



A. FiRMA (ihe Common Fir of S. Japan). 



A. HoMOLEPis "I (the Mountain Firs [Dake 



A. Brachyphylla J Momi] of Central Japan). 



We have here a triplet of Japanese trees, which 

 have more than done their fair share in creating 

 perplexities and heart-burnings among the leading 

 lights of such subjects. Whether they should have 



