6 CONIFEROUS TREES 



1 have seen is growing at Claremont, in Surrey. 

 It was planted by H.R.H. Princess Beatrice on 

 7th April 1883. 



A. BRACTEATA, Nuttull. Santa Lucia Fir. 

 Bristle Cone Fir. (Synonyms : Pinus venusta, 

 Douglas ; P. bracteata, D. Don ; Picea bracteata, 

 Loudon ; Abies venusta, C. Koch.) California, 

 1853. — Too much can hardly be said in favour of 

 this comparatively rare tree, for, with its long and 

 thick deep green leaves, somewhat erect habit and 

 pleasant contour, it is beyond doubt one of the 

 handsomest of the many conifers with which 

 California has enriched our empire. Even the 

 cones are so distinct from those of any other 

 species that recognition of the tree by these alone 

 is by no means difficult. In this country the lower 

 branches of the tree have a somewhat decumbent 

 habit of growth, while those farther up are hori- 

 zontal or ascending. The leaves are of a distinct 

 and beautiful dark green colour, and average about 



2 inches in length, while the cones are 3 inches 

 long, with the bracts developed into 2-inch long, 

 leaf-like, linear spines and usually covered with 

 globules of resin. The largest, best furnished, and 

 healthiest specimens that I have seen are grow- 

 ing in soil that is largely composed of peat, or to 

 which a quantity of rich sandy loam was added at 

 time of planting. After becoming established, the 

 upward rate of growth is fairly rapid, the annual 

 addition to the height of the specimens referred 

 to for five consecutive years averaging 13^ inches. 

 The tree is found in many collections of conifers, 

 but is by no means common in cultivation. Two 

 of the finest in England are at Eastnor Castle, 



