PICEA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



PIERIS. 



629 



great value for ornament. It is a mistake 

 to plant it on high exposed places or in 

 hot sandy soil. In most sheltered valleys 

 it is a beautiful tree when seen in masses. 

 There are many forms of it, a good number 

 of which are mere monstrosities not worthy 

 of the garden, especially the so-called 

 golden and silvery varieties. 



P. SITCHENSIS. In places where this 

 Spruce thrives it is a very beautiful tree, 

 because of the bluish silvery-grey tone of 

 its needle-like leaves. In a damp climate 

 where the soil is deep and moist it thrives, 

 but in dry soils soon in a wretched 

 condition. It grows well and rapidly 

 with me, and is the best of trees for wet 

 soils. Alaska to N. California. 



P. MORINDA. No other Spruce has such 

 gracefully drooping branches as this 

 Himalayan tree, which is also known well 

 by its other name, P. Smithiana. It is 

 worthy of a place among the finest orna- 

 mental trees, but must have a deep moist 

 soil, more heavy than light, and the posi- 

 tion not too sheltered. Under these con- 

 ditions it flourishes in the bleakest parts 

 of the eastern counties, where some of 

 the finest examples of it exist. 



P. OMORICA (Servians.). A recent intro- 

 duction which promises to be a good 

 addition to the Spruces notable for orna- 

 mental planting. It has somewhat the 

 appearance of P. orientalis in its growth, 

 and very dark green foliage, but the leaves 

 are larger, flat, and decidedly silvery 

 beneath. 



P. ORIENTALIS. This Caucasian Spruce 

 has somewhat the appearance of the Nor- 

 way Spruce, but it is a smaller growing 

 tree with much shorter leaves and 

 branches, and is more suitable as a garden 

 tree, as it is of denser growth and retains 

 its lower branches. It is of a deep glossy 

 green, and on this account, and its dwarfed 

 growth, is especially suitable for grouping 

 with the larger conifers. It is very 

 hardy, and thrives best in moist soils. 



P. POLITA (Tiger-tail S.). This is one of 

 our newer Japanese trees, but, judg- 

 ing by the largest trees in various parts 

 of the country, it is a Spruce that will 

 thrive in these islands. It is of handsome 

 outline, and with leaves the stiffest and 

 sharpest of all, which renders it cattle 

 proof. It stands exposure well, and is a 

 tree for high windy places. 



P. PUNGENS. An American Spruce 

 most valuable for this country, hardy, 

 standing exposure in high places better 

 than any other. It is generally known in 

 gardens by the variety glauca. It is 

 largely raised from seed in order to select 

 from the seedlings silvery plants. This 

 Spruce is confused with another Cali- 

 fornian Spruce called P. Engelmanni, 

 P. commutata, or P. Parryana, but which 

 is quite inferior to P. pungens. 



PIERIS. Evergreen shrubs of Japan, 

 China, and America. Their effect is 

 precious among Magnolias, Rhodo- 

 dendrons, and the choicer evergreen 

 shrubs, and the same soil usually 

 suits them. They may also be grouped 



Picea JHorinda. 



as bold rock garden shrubs in moist 

 peaty or leafy soils, thriving all the 

 better for partial shade at mid-day. 

 The following are the best kinds : 



P. FLORIBUNDA. A close-growing ever- 

 green shrub from N. America, with nar- 

 row oblong leaves and white urn-shape 

 flowers in dense one-sided racemes, formed 

 in the autumn and opening in spring. 

 They will do so much earlier, however, 

 and come much whiter too, if put in gentle 

 heat under glass, or even cut and placed 

 in water in a warm room. The plant is 

 hardy in most soils, but thrives best in 

 those of a sandy and leafy nature. It 

 never grows high, and may be grouped 

 with the choicer evergreen shrubs. 



P. FORMOSA. A beautiful and tall ever- 

 green shrub, only hardy in the west and 

 south of England, suffering injury at 

 times even in the Thames Valley. It 

 bears dark green leathery leaves, finely 

 toothed at the edges, and drooping clus- 



