r8 CONIFEROUS TREES 



description. It grows rapidly, the average annual 

 increase in height of several specimens that I 

 measured being 20 inches for a period of twenty- 

 iive years. The production of wood is likewise 

 rapid, as will be learnt from the following : A 

 tree of this kind was planted in good loamy soil 

 and a moderately sheltered situation in 1854, i^ 

 at that time being a robust growing specimen of 

 3 feet in height. In 1884, or thirty years after- 

 wards, it had attained to a height of 55 feet, when 

 it was found to contain 61 cubic feet of wood, this 

 giving an average annual increase of fully 2 feet 

 per year. The quality of home-grown timber is 

 not such as to be recommended, it being soft, 

 easily worked, and clean of graining, and from 

 this I do not consider that the tree will be of any 

 special value for afforesting purposes. 



A. NOBiLis GLAUCA. — Though not of constant 

 character as regards foliage colouring, yet, in 

 certain specimens the glaucous tint is so well 

 pronounced and distinct as to merit the attention 

 it has received. It is equally robust as the type. 



A. NORDMANNIANA, Spach. Nordmaun's 

 Silver Fir. (Synonyms : Pinus nordmanniana, 

 Steven ; Picea nordmanniana, Loudon.) Caucasus, 

 Greece, and Asia Minor. 1848. — This must be 

 considered as one of the finest and most valuable 

 of the European or Asiatic species of silver fir. 

 As a park and lawn tree, it can scarcely be sur- 

 passed, the regular and handsome outline, rich 

 glossy green foliage, and stately habit rendering 

 it a decided acquisition for ornamental planting. 

 The leaves are rigid and horizontal, deep glossy 

 green, about i inch long, and the cones ovoid and 



