THE PINE SUB-FAMILY. 207 



ing on the grounds of the late Geo. Sheaff, Esq., at White 

 Marsh, Montgomery Co., Pa., is a mistake ; those hand- 

 some Balsams are unusually fine specimens of the JPicea 

 pectinata, and have made a growth of near 80 feet in 

 about 30 years." 



Loudon commences his description of this species as fol- 

 lows : " The Silver Fir, the noblest tree of its genus, ex- 

 cept P. Webbiana" etc. ; thus ignoring the more noble di- 

 mensions of our north-west species, which are unapproach- 

 able in size and beauty. Whilst the Abies pectinata rare- 

 ly, if ever, exceeds 180 feet in height, such American Firs 

 as the A. nobilis, A. grandis, and A. amabilis, reach an 

 altitude of from 200 to 250 feet ; and Jeifrey states that 

 he saw specimens of A. grandis 280 feet in height. 



The Silver Fir produces a white wood, elastic and hard, 

 with an irregular grain. The Strasburg turpentine is ex- 

 tracted from tumors found on the bark of this tree, and 

 according to the ancient writers was valued in their day. 



As is the case with all our well-known cultivated trees 

 that have a wide range, this Fir has a large number of 

 varieties. We select a few of the most distinct, although 

 possibly not very desirable in other than large collections. 



Var. pendula, G-odefroy. Is a peculiar plant, as hardy 

 as the species, but not very handsome. A specimen in 

 our collection reminds one of an unmanageable tree of the 

 Winter Nelis Pear. 



Var, tortuosa, Sooth. Is only curious, the branches 

 being twisted and deformed. 



Var, pyramidalis, Hort. This peculiar tree is described 

 as having its branches curved upward, but with the ends 

 more or less drooping. The general outline resembles 

 somewhat that of the Lombardy Poplar. From Germany 



Var, Yariegata, Hort. Has numerous pale yellowish 

 leaves intermingled with the usual green foliage. 



Var. fastigiata, Sooth. A French kind with the 



