I 9 



Coniferous ZTrees. 



are several varieties, one very dwarf, another with droop- 

 ing branches. White spruce (P. alba) is of a broader and 

 more compact habit, and has whitish leaves. A very hand- 

 some ornamental tree for groups or specimens. Black spruce 

 (P. nigrd) has shorter and darker leaves. This is a small 

 tree growing in cold and damp soil. The Himalayan spruce 

 (P. Morinda) is the most beautiful of the spruces, with 

 comparatively long leaves, ample branches, and a very 

 regular, pyramidal habit. 



Blue Spruce, Picea pungens, is a slow-growing, compact, 

 and rigid tree with sharp, needle-like leaves. Often very 



beautiful on account 

 of its glaucous blue 

 color. A very attrac- 

 tive species for plant- 

 ing on rocky hillsides 

 or in small places as a 

 specimen on the lawn. 

 Fir, Abies. The 

 firs are stately trees 

 with erect cones, most- 

 ly flattened branches, 

 and comparatively 

 long, glossy, green or 

 glaucous leaves. All 

 grow in mountain re- 

 gions, sometimes in 

 hi^h altitude s on 



FIG. 97. CEPHALONIAN SILVER FIR (ABIES CEPHA- 



LONICA). rocky and precipitous 



ground. They are the most ornamental of all coniferous 



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