556 EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS. 



character of the branches, and the fact that the latter are " not 

 glossy like those of the true grandis when young." (Gordon.) 



THE LOVELY SILVER FIR. Picea amabilis. This is also one of 

 the trees of California and Oregon, growing there occasionally to 

 the height of two hundred and fifty feet. It has longer leaves than 

 any other tree of the family (except Parsons' silver fir, which most 

 resembles it), being from one and a half to two inches in length, 

 arranged in rows on the sides of the twigs, and of a bluish-green 

 tone. Young twigs a light brown ; older bark greenish-gray. The 

 smaller twigs are less regular in their horizontal direction than 

 those of the P. grandis and P. Parsonii, and the foliage is therefore 

 not quite so thin and regular in stratification. One of the most 

 beautiful of the silver firs. Its hardiness is not determined. 



THE SIBERIAN SILVER FIR. Picea pichta. This is one of the 

 most valuable of the European firs recently introduced, on account 

 of its medium size and dense foliage. The latter is of the balsam 

 fir type, but the leaves are nearly double the size. They are soft 

 to the touch ; the young wood is short and thick, but bends yield- 

 ingly in the hand, resembling in this respect the beautiful P. nord- 

 maniana, from which it differs in having darker foliage, denser and 

 shorter growth, and still greater pliability of young wood, which is 

 of a grayish hue. The shade of color is peculiarly deep and rich 

 in young trees. Whether it may not become a sombre tree with 

 age is a question. It is advisable to plant it where its deep green 

 color will be contrasted with trees or shrubs of a light warm tone. 

 A native of the mountains of Siberia. It will probably make a tree 

 of about the height of our balsam fir, but broader, better filled in 

 with foliage, and less sharply conical. Our opinion of this tree has 

 been formed principally from one specimen, which is now about 

 twelve feet high. 



THE JAPAN SILVER FIR. Picea firma. A species recently 

 introduced, which has a strong resemblance to the common silver 

 fir at a little distance, but is distinguished on a closer approach by 

 its shorter and stiffer leaves, thickly set on the sides of the twigs, 



