ii6 CONIFEROUS TREES 



leaves, these being stiff and three-eighths of an 

 inch in length. Cones pendent, 2| inches long, 

 by three-quarters of an inch in diameter at thickest 

 part, ovate oblong, and tapering gradually to a 

 point. They are, in a young state, thickly covered 

 with resin, so much so that both the shape and 

 size are quite lost to view, this, however, ultimately 

 disappearing. This tree suffers much from stem- 

 pruning ; indeed, more so than almost any other 

 of its tribe, resin oozing in quantity from the 

 wound long after amputation of a branch has 

 taken place. The timber is of fair quality, and 

 resembles that of the Norway Spruce ; but the 

 rate of growth is slow, a height of 50 feet having 

 only been attained under very favourable condi- 

 tions in forty- three years. The tree being very 

 sturdy and hardy, is well suited for standing alone, 

 even in exposed situations where many other 

 conifers would suffer considerably. 



P. ORiENTALis AUREA has many of the branch- 

 tips suffused with greenish yellow. It is a worthy 

 variety. 



P. ORIENTALIS PYGM^EA, Ohlend, is of dwarf 

 neat growth, and makes an excellent border or 

 rock shrub. 



P. POLITA, Carriere. (Synonyms : Abies 

 Torano, Siehold ; A. polita, Siehold et Zuccarini.) 

 Mountains of Japan. 1861. — This is one of the 

 handsomest and hardiest of the Japanese conifers. 

 The branches are stout and horizontally arranged, 

 the leaves long, curved, and four-sided, broad at 

 the base, tapering to a stiff point, and pale green 

 in colour. Cones 3i inches long by i J inches broad, 

 at first erect and pale green, but afterwards pendent 



