130 THE BOOK OF EVEBGREEXS. 



color. Cones, from 6 to 9 inches long, 2 inches in diame- 

 ter, cylindrical, smooth, pendulous, pedunculate, clustered ; 

 with broad, thick, wedge-shaped, coriaceous, closely imbri- 

 cated scales. Seeds, mostly small, ovate, compressed, 

 with a hard, dark colored testa, and a membranaceous, re- 

 ticulated, oblong-obtuse wing. 



This beautiful pine, owing to an unfortunate habit of 

 blasting, is not so popular at the present time as it de- 

 serves to be. The high cultivation given it by most plant- 

 ers has, in the majority of instances, resulted in failure, 

 and consequently the tree is condemned, when the fault 

 lies in the soil, which caused a superabundance of weak, 

 unripened wood. Such is the idea we have formed upon 

 the subject, and in every case that has fallen under our 

 notice an examination into the cause of failure has re- 

 sulted in establishing this view. 



The Bhotan Pine is a native of Nepal and Bhotan ; and 

 on the Himalayas, at elevations of from 6000 to 8000 feet, 

 (and occasionally even to 11,500 feet,) it flourishes with 

 remarkable vigor, forming entire forests along the warmer 

 slopes. Perhaps the finest specimens are to be found near 

 the Shatool Pass, and below Shansoo, in Kunawur, where 

 these trees are occasionally found 150 feet in height, 

 generally branched to the ground and forming large, 

 spreading cones. 



We consider this species one of the most desirable of 

 the family for parks and pleasure grounds, as its remark- 

 ably graceful, drooping habit, (which has given it the 

 name of " Drooping Fir " by some Himalayan travellers,) 

 is peculiarly appropriate for single specimens ; and as it is 

 perfectly hardy, withstanding the utmost severity of our 

 winters, it should be included in every collection, how- 

 ever small. 



The general appearance of this tree reminds one of a 

 handsome White Pine, and indeed the resemblance be- 

 comes more perfect upon a nearer inspection, as they are 



