114 PlCEJE, OR SPRUCE TREES 



Nigra and Rubra, which are explained in our de- 

 scriptions. Its leaves are like the P. Orientalis. 



P. Orientalis. — This tree is common enough with 

 us, and planters of Conifers are beginning to reawaken 

 to its ornamental merits. With its brilliant crimson 

 staminate flowers and short leaves it is quite unique 

 among the more elderly specimens of the Spruces 

 seen with us. A tree planted here in 1845 measures 

 close upon 90 ft. in height and 7 ft. 7 in. in girth, 

 and this is 21 ft. higher, and i in. less in circumference, 

 than the champion specimen (Dognersfield, Hants, 

 Sir H. Mildmay) mentioned in Trees of Great Britain. 



P. Obovata is still more or less a stranger in our 

 land. It is accredited with a propensity to quarrel 

 with our climate on account of its too genial warmth. 

 If so we can only say that it is a curious taste on its 

 part, and an unusual complaint to hear charged 

 against our country. 



Its leaves are shorter and more pointed than those 

 of our Common Spruce. They appear to spread out 

 more from the stem, or, to use a Cypress phrase, look 

 " freer at the apex " than the generality of Spruces. 

 Their branchlets are of a greyer colour, and by way 

 of being more pubescent than those of our Spruces, 

 which when in good health are of a redder hue. 



Their cones are very different. Whereas the usual 

 length of a P. Excelsa cone is somewhere about 6 in., 

 the cones of the Obovata sent me from Russia measure 

 at most but 2 J in. The difference in the margin of 

 their scales gives a valuable clue to their identity. 

 The margins of the cone scales of the P. Obovata are 

 round and entire, while those of the P. Excelsa 

 are in most cases either one or two pointed. 



The small tree growing here so far promises well, 

 and looks particularly happy in its surroundings, 



