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ABIES. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



ABRONIA. 



A. CEPHALONICA (Cephalonian Fir). A 

 vigorous Fir of about 60 feet high, hardy 

 in this country in a variety of soils, best 

 planted in a high position to prevent it 

 starting into growth too early. Greece. 



A. CILICICA (Mount Taurus Fir). A 

 graceful tree, 40 feet to 60 feet high, with 

 slender branches. It grows freely, but is 

 apt to be injured by spring frosts ; the 

 leaves are soft, and of a peculiar shade of 

 green. Cilicia. 



A. CONCOLOR (Hoary White Fir). -A 

 whitish tree of medium height, with thick, 

 grey bark. The flat leaves are about 

 2 inches long, and it has small pale yellow 

 cones. It is hardy in Britain, and a rapid 

 grower. Colorado. 



A. FIRMA (Japanese Silver Fir). A tree 

 of sometimes 150 feet in height, with light 

 brown bark and foliage of a glossy green. 

 Hardy in Britain, and grows freely when 

 established. It is a handsome tree with 

 short branches and stiff habit. Japan. 



A. FRASERI (Alleghany Fir). Reaches 

 90 feet high in its' own country, with 

 smooth bark having resinous blisters. It 

 is allied to the Balsam Fir, but has shorter 

 and more oval cones, and leaves with 

 silvery undersides. Virginia, N. Carolina, 

 and Tennessee. 



A. GRANDIS (Puget Sound Fir). A 

 stately tree 200 feet high, with dark green 

 cones 2 to 3 inches long, and dark shining 

 leaves, white below. Hardy in various 

 parts of Britain ; best in moist soils. 

 N.W. America. 



A. LASIOCARPA (Alpine Fir). A beau- 

 tiful spire-like tree 150 feet high, with 

 white bark and very small cones, purple, 

 2 to 3 inches long, and red male flowers, 

 the foliage gracefully curved. Alaska, 

 B. Columbia. 



A. LOWIANA (California White Fir). A 

 lovely tree, often 150 feet high, long leaves, 

 and light green cones, turning yellow at 

 maturity. Oregon to S. California. 



A. MAGNIFICA (California Red Fir). A 

 stately mountain tree of 200 to 250 feet, 

 with brown bark (red within), and very 

 large light purple cones, 6 to 8 inches long. 

 The foliage is dense on the lower branches, 

 but thinner towards the top, of olive-green. 

 N. California. 



A. MARIESI (Maries' Silver Fir). A tall, 

 pyramidal tree with spreading branches 

 and dark purple cones, 4 to 5 inches long. 

 Japan. 



A. NOBILIS (Columbia Fir). A mountain 

 tree, 200 to 300 feet high, with deep 

 glaucous foliage and brown cones 5 to 

 7 inches long. Does not thrive in some 

 soils ; best in deep soil, and with abundant 

 moisture. Oregon. 



A. NORDMANNIANA (Crimean Fir). A 

 beautiful dark green tree, with rigid 

 branches and dense dark green foliage and 

 large cones. Caucasus and Crimea. 



A. NUMIDICA (Mount Babor Fir). A 

 tree of medium height with bright green 



foliage. Hardy in this country. Moun- 

 tains of N. Africa, growing with Cedars 

 and Yew. 



A. PECTIN ATA (Silver Fir).-^A noble tree 

 of the mountains of Central Europe. The 

 first of the Silver Firs planted in Britain. 

 When young it grows well in the shade of 

 other trees, and it is an excellent tree to 

 plant for shelter, as it will grow in the most 

 exposed situations. 



A. PINSAPO (Spanish Silver Fir). A 

 large Fir, with bright green prickly foliage, 

 thriving in almost any soil and in chalky 

 districts. Often suffers from too early a 

 start in spring, and the usual method of 

 planting as specimens in grass, the grass 

 robbing the tree. Spain. 



A. SACHALINENSIS (Saghalien Silver 

 Fir). A tall tree with greyish-brown 

 bark, narrow leaves, and small cones. It 

 is hardy, and of distinct and graceful 

 habit. Japan and Saghalien. 



A. VEITCHI (Veitch's Silver Fir). A tall 

 tree of over 100 feet. The bark is light 

 grey, and the leaves a bright glossy green 

 with silvery streaks, the cones being a 

 purplish-brown. Japan. 



A. WEBBIANA (Webb's Fir). An Indian 

 Fir, sometimes nearly 100 feet high, and 

 one of the most distinct. The leaves are 

 glossy green with silvery undersides, the 

 cones large. A variety Pindrow is without 

 the silver markings. Both suffer much 

 from spring frosts. Himalayas. 



As to the growth and placing of the 

 Silver Firs, the usual way of dot planting 

 is not the best. I prefer half a dozen kinds 

 known to thrive in this country to many 

 kinds set out in the lamp-post way. The 

 trees should shelter and help each other, 

 planting close at first, with " nurses " 

 planted between, all to be thinned off 

 in due time. Close planting does not 

 imply that the trees are not to be allowed 

 space for their stately growth as time goes 

 on. Another gain from the natural 

 grouping is that the trees cast off their 

 branches as they grow up and show the 

 noble stems. From seeds is the true way 

 of increase. 



ABRONIA (Sand Verbena). Small 

 Californian annuals or perennials of a 

 trailing habit, with blossoms in dense 

 Verbena-like clusters. A. arenaria, a 

 honey-scented perennial, has trailing 

 stems and dense clusters of lemon- 

 coloured flowers ; A. umbellata, also 

 an annual with succulent trailing stems 

 and clusters of rosy-purple, slightly 

 fragrant flowers ; A . fragrans, forming 

 large branching tufts from i to 2 feet, 

 and white flowers which expand late in 

 the afternoon, and then exhale a deli- 

 cate vanilla-like perfume ; A . villosa 

 has violet flowers, and A . Crux Mastce, 

 with scented flowers. A. arenaria and 



