4 ABIES; OR 



rounded, slightly incurved and rugged, or toothed at the top. 

 Seeds, very small, with a wing three-quarters of an inch long. 

 Seed-leaves from 7 to 9 in number. 



A fine lofty tree, attaining to the height of 150 feet, or even 

 more in a favourable situation, with a straight trunk, from 2 to 



5 feet in diameter, and widely extended branches, spreading 

 regularly on all sides, so as to form a pyramid ; timber light, 

 elastic, and not very resinous. It is known under the name of 

 White Deal. 



The Spruce Fir is very common, and forms forests on the 

 Alps, from east to west, and is principally found at a height 

 varying from 4000 to 6500 feet of elevation, but it sometimes 

 occurs as high as 7000 feet, where it becomes very dwarf; 

 while on the other hand, it has been found as low as 1000 feet 

 at Tolmezzo in Venice, but nowhere on the whole chain of the 

 Apennines ; it is also wanting in a natural state in the countries 

 surrounding the Mediterranean, even on the mountains ; but is 

 common in Scandinavia, especially to the east of the mountains ; 

 and in the German plains, also from the Vosges in France, to 

 the Carpathians, and on the Pyrenees. It is very common, 

 planted and otherwise, in Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Denmark, 

 the north of Germany, and Russia, and, as invariably happens, 

 with a species subject to such a variety of climates and soils, 

 it has many varieties or forms, of which the following are the 

 most striking. 



1. Abies excelsa pygmjea, Loudon, the Dwarf Spruce. 



Syn. Abies nana. Hart. 



„ „ pumila, Hort. 



„ „ minuta. Hart. 



„ „ minima, Hort. 



A very diminutive variety, only growing a foot high, but 

 spreading on the ground, and certainly one of the dwarfest of 

 all firs. 



