SPRUCE FIRS. 13 



graceful tree, the boughs ascend a little in the young trees, but 

 are horizontal in the older ones, and from these the branchlets 

 and smaller twigs droop in the most graceful manner. It pre- 

 fers a north aspect, and attains a great height in favourable 

 situations, frequently from 100 to 150 feet high. Capt. Hodgson 

 measured a fallen tree in 1830, and found the length 169 feet. 

 The following dimensions in girth at 5 feet from the ground are 

 given by Major Madden, in his observations on the conifers of 

 India, viz. — Abies Smithiana, near Simla, 15 feet in girth ; near 

 Nagkunda, 17| feet; and on the north-east face of Choor moun- 

 tain, 20 feet in girth. This species is also found in China and 

 Japan. It is called ' Rai ' by the people of India, a term used 

 for Fir tree, and also Khutrow (prickly Fir). In China * lo- 

 bi-sjo,' and in Japan * Toranowo-Momi' (the tiger's tail). 



The Timber is extremely soft, of a white colour, and generally 

 free from knots, but very perishable. 

 It is quite hardy. 



Section II. TSUGA, or those kinds vs^ith flat leaves, 



MOSTLY GLAUCOUS BELOW, AND MORE OR LESS TWO-ROWED, 

 LIKE THE HEMLOCK SPRUCE. 



No. 10. Abies Brunoniana, Lindley, the Indian Hemlock 



Spruce. 

 Syn. Abies dumosa, Loudon. 

 ,, „ decidua, Wallich. 

 „ „ cedroides, Griffith. 

 „ Pinus dumosa, Lambert. 

 „ „ decidua, Wallich. 

 „ „ Brunoniana, Endlicher. 

 „ Tsuga Brunoniana, Carriere. 



Leaves, solitary, somewhat in two rows, or scattered along the 

 branches, flat, linear, spreading, obtuse or slightly pointed, 

 minutely toothed towards the apex, reflexed on the margins, and 

 about 1 inch long, covered below with a milk-white mealiness^ 



