552 EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS. 



or five feet high, and of great proportional breadth. The growth 

 is as dense as that of a clipped hedge, and the foliage is a dark, 

 velvety shade of green. A pleasing companion for the dwarf silver 

 fir, Picea p. compacta. A native of the northern parts of our 

 continent. 



THE EUROPEAN SILVER FIR. Picea pectinata. A much nobler 

 tree than our native balsam fir, though it has some of the same 

 faults in a modified degree. The foliage is warmer-toned, longer, 

 and more silvery on the under side, and the growth somewhat 

 stronger. The disposition of the branches is even more in hori- 

 zontal layers than those of the balsam fir, and when quite young, 

 this character gives it the same formality of shadow lines ; but 

 these being still more decided, in connection with the warmer-toned 

 foliage, the tree has a more distinctive character. It finally, how- 

 ever, acquires a sombre expression, but does not arrive at that state 

 until it is from thirty to forty years old. When grown in strong 

 soils, it is apt to lose its leader while young by excessive cold. 

 This is not so great a misfortune as many persons suppose. It 

 is very easy to select some of the little twigs the following spring 

 from the buds around the base of the leader, and make leaders of 

 them. The check in the growth of the upright stem may tend to 

 make the foliage at the bottom more dense and beautiful. There 

 are many beautiful varieties of the silver fir, among which are the 

 following : 



THE WEEPING SILVER FIR. P. p. pendula This is an ex- 

 quisite tree when carefully trained to a stake until from six to ten 

 feet high. It is peculiar in form, and the foliage is quite bright- 

 colored. The specimen in Parsons & Co.'s ground at Flushing is 

 a very embodiment of graceful, slender elegance. By the smooth, 

 downward sweep of its branches, it is relieved of the formality of 

 stratification and outline peculiar to the family, and retains all the 

 soft beauty of their foliage. It is a twin beauty with the pendulous 

 Norway spruce (inverta). 



THE UPRIGHT SILVER FIR. P. p. fastigiata. (P.p. metensis). 

 A German garden variety, of more erect fastigiate habit than any 

 other, and is said to resemble the Lombardy poplar in outline. 



