112 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



xanthocarpa) on Mount Shasta. In its northerly range it is most 

 common at elevations of 6,000-8,000 ft., reaching in southerly 

 localities an altitude of 10,000 ft. It extends along the entire 

 length of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada at altitudes of 

 6,000-9,000 ft. The California red fir, which is one of the most 

 ornamental species, was introduced in 1851 by John Jeffrey, who 

 confused it with A. amabilis. It was afterwards distributed by 

 Messrs. Veitch under the name of Abies robusta. 



Wood light, soft, close-grained, rather weak, fairly durable 

 for outdoor work, with light reddish-brown heartwood and 

 rather lighter sapwood. One of the best of the fir woods. Used 

 in America for bridge timbers, in general construction, and largely 

 for various classes of joinery work. It is very useful for boxes 

 and is much used for fuel. As the timber is obtainable in quantity 

 in large sizes it will probably meet with an extended future 

 demand in foreign markets. 



A. magnifica is essentially a mountain tree, thriving in cool, 

 moist valleys and on rolling mountain sides, as well as in deep 

 ravines, preferring north and east exposures. It is also found in 

 wind-swept places, but in such situations does not attain its best 

 dimensions — exposure, poor soil, and dry conditions inducing 

 stunted growth. Moist, well-drained, light or gravelly loams 

 are said to produce the best trees in its native country. As a 

 forest tree it withstands less shade than most of the firs, but 

 forms pure stands, or the dominant tree in mixed stands where 

 conditions are favourable. It is not a very good tree for general 

 cultivation in Britain, and fine specimens free from disease are 

 rare in the S. of England. It is better suited for the cool, moist 

 valleys of Wales and Scotland than for the S. of England. In 

 places where mild winters are experienced and periods of drought 

 occur in summer, this fir is often seriously injured by Chermes 

 picea, var. bouveri, an aphid which punctures the shoots and 

 induces ugly, gouty swellings, the trees being eventually killed. 

 Once a tree has been badly injured it cannot recover. Grafting is 

 resorted to for the propagation of this species, but grafted trees 

 are never satisfactory and it is better raised from seed. 



Abies Mariesii, Masters. 

 Maries' Fir. 



A tree up to 80 ft. high and 6 ft. in girth in Japan. Bark pale 

 grey or nearly white on old trees, becoming rough near the base of 

 the trunk. Branches stout, rigid, spreading, forming an oval or 

 flattened crown. Young shoots clothed with reddish brown or 

 chocolate-coloured down. Winter buds small, globose, resinous. 

 Leaves arranged as in ^. Nordmanniana, on the lower side of the 

 shoot, spreading horizontally right and left, those on the upper 



