GROWING PLANTS FOR 



ture. But we are beginning to find out that 

 it is much easier to grow and grow well 

 than any Palm, and before a great while it will 

 be found in most collections. It resembles 

 some of our native Spruces and Balsams more 

 than any other plant I can compare it with, 

 but this comparison fails to convey a good idea 

 of its beauty. Its foliage is smaller and its 

 general effect more airy and graceful than that 

 of any of our native evergreens. It is very 

 symmetrical in habit. Its branches are pro- 

 duced in successive whorls. There are general- 

 ly five branches in each whorl. When this is 

 the case each whorl forms a perfect star. Be- 

 cause of this the plant is sometimes called the 

 Star Pine. But frequently there will be eight 

 branches in a whorl. I do not recall ever seeing 

 less than five or more than eight, and have no 

 recollection of any instance where there were 

 seven. 



Young plants are fine for table decoration, 

 especially at Christmas, as they can be made to 

 serve as Christmas trees on a small scale, their 

 branches being quite strong enough to sustain 

 the weight of small gifts. Large plants can be 

 pressed into use in the same capacity for gifts 

 of larger size. This plant likes a soil of rich, 



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