SPRUCE FIRS, 



11 



it as a noble tree, rising to a height of 150 feet, and 13^ feet in 

 circumference, and towering above the rest of the forest, but as 

 it ascended the mountain, it got gradually smaller, till at last it 

 dwindled down into a shrub not more than 4 feet high. It is 

 found at elevations of from 5000 to 6000 feet, on Cascade 

 Mountain, and on Mount Baker range, in Upper California. 



It is quite hardy, and has been named by Jeffrey, in com- 

 pliment to Mr. Patton, of the Cairnies, in Scotland, a gentleman 

 much interested in conifers. 



No. 8. Abies rubra, Poiret. The Red or Arctic Spruce Fir. 

 Syn. Picea rubra, Link. 

 „ Abies rubra Californica, Hort. 

 „ „ Arctica, Cnnningham. 

 „ „ rubra Arctica, Hort. 

 „ Pinus Americana Gartner. 

 „ „ Americana rubra, Waugh. 

 „ „ rubra, Lambert. 

 „ Abies nigra, var. rubra, Michaux. 



Leaves, solitary, very slender, awl- shaped, rigid, sharp- 

 pointed, and thickly and regularly scattered all round the 

 branches, somewhat four-sided, half an inch long, and of a 

 glaucous pale green colour. Branches, horizontal, and slender. 

 Cones, oblong, egg-shaped, tapering regularly to both ends^ 

 pendulous, about 1 inch long, and half an inch broad, and of a 

 reddish-brown colour. Scales, round, somewhat lobed or divided 

 in the centre of the upper margin, and entire, the middle scales 

 the largest, those near the apex the smallest, and more wedge- 

 shaped. Seeds, very small, with a short stiff wing. 



A tall tree, varying in stature according to soil and situation. 

 In deep loamy soil, and in a favourable situation, it grows 70 or 

 80 feet high, while in the cold Arctic regions, it becomes a 

 small bush. 



It is found in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and the more 

 northern parts of North America, as far as the Arctic regions, 

 where it forms the last vestige of arborescent vegetation. 

 Timber, excellent. There is the following variety. 



