EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS. 541 



spruce is a graceful mass of drooping foliage from youth to age, but 

 perhaps there is no period when its graces are more conspicuous, 

 and its faults less so, than when it has been planted from fifteen to 

 twenty years. After that age it begins to exhibit, little by little, the 

 dark interior colors and saggy droop of boughs that give it, to a 

 slight degree, a sombre and monotonous expression, reminding one 

 of the dripping moss-hung trees of evergreen swamps. In June 

 and July, when the growing twigs are in a succulent state, and 

 bending by their own weight, their velvety masses of verdure pro- 

 duce a more exquisite effect than those of any deciduous tree 

 we know of, and very few evergreens equal the Norway spruce in 

 this species of grace ; though most of the Abies and Picea family 

 are peculiarly beautiful during the growing season from the same 

 cause. 



There is a great difference of growth among Norway spruce 

 trees, and a skillful judge of trees will be able to select from the 

 nursery those which are likely to develop the greatest luxuriance of 

 foliage and grace of form ; or, at least those which will develop the 

 greatest beauty during fifteen or twenty years. After that age it 

 sometimes happens that trees of the stiffer and more meagre foliage 

 while young, form heads as dense and well broken by light and 

 shadow as those which have been more beautiful in their early 

 growth. 



In Chapter XIV will be found some suggestions on artificial 

 adaptations of trees, some of which will apply to the Norway spruce. 



Some interesting dwarfs and sports of this species are peculiarly 

 adapted to small grounds. The following are some of them : 



THE PIGMY FIR.- Abies excelsa Pygmxa. This diminutive vari- 

 ety is perhaps the smallest of firs, not exceeding one foot in height, 

 but growing more laterally. Its foliage is minute, of a light green 

 or golden tinge. Hardy. 



THE DWARF BLACK SPRUCE. Abies e. nigra pumila. This is a 

 little larger than the preceding, and grows from two to three feet in 

 height and three to four feet in breadth. Foliage dark colored. 



CLANBRASIL'S DWARF SPRUCE. A. e. danbrassiliana. This is 

 a little larger than the preceding, attaining a height of from two to 

 four feet, and about equal breadth. It is considered less healthy in 



