82 ABIES, OR SILVER FIRS 



(2) What is the true story of yet another disturbing 

 element on the scene in the shape called the Uinbel- 

 lata, whether it is a variety of the Brachyphylla and 

 Homolepis (regarding them as one and the same 

 plant), or whether it is a hybrid, as between them 

 and the A. Firma? The latter, from evidence re- 

 ceived, seems the likeliest solution of this vexed 

 question. 



(3) Whether its presence as a new-comer in our 

 midst has not added confusion to the scene, and given 

 rise to the idea that four identities are in actual 

 being — namely, Firma, Brachyphylla, Homolepis, 

 Umbellata — ^whereas in fact only three are existent, 

 Firma, Homolepis and the probably cross-bred Um- 

 bellata. 



Tempus edax rerum. Time and experience some 

 day may solve these knotty complications to the 

 satisfaction of all, and attune the botanical world 

 once more in a dull and an uninteresting blend of 

 harmony upon these so far unresolved modulations. 

 For the time being, the most convenient course to 

 pursue, for all lovers of simplicity, is to follow Wilson, 

 and to look upon them as one, to talk of them as 

 one, and call them either Brachyphylla or Homolepis, 

 but not Brachyphylla and Homolepis, as the spirit 

 moves or fancy dictates 



The A. Webbiana has not earned with us those 

 credentials of hardiness that we might have looked for 

 from a tree that came from Himalayan heights. 

 The story of its failure here seems to be the want of 

 constancy in our climatic programme. The com- 

 plaint of such trees seems to be that we, as a country, 

 exhibit a lamentable want of decision as to what 

 sort of weather we are going to provide for them in 

 the critical moments of early spring-time. And yet 

 it comes from regions that must often experience a 



