SPRUCE FIRS. 31 



from the line of perpetual snow, where in moist situations it 

 forms a tree from 100 to 130 feet high, with a trunk sometimes 

 three feet in diameter. Its branches spread out horizontally from 

 the main stem, but become drooping towards the extremities, 

 and with the branchlets thickly set round with solitary leaves 

 about two-thirds of an inch long, grass green above, and pale 

 green beneath, with those towards the points of the branchlets 

 spreading, and silvery white below. The cones are about two 

 inches long, and one in diameter, in the widest part ; when 

 young, dark purple, but when old, pale brown. Male flowei'S, 

 or catkins, two-eighths of an inch long, and of a violet colour, 

 The timber is of a reddish colour, close, and fine-grained, and 

 remarkable for its strength and durability, and as an ornamen- 

 tal tree for parks or pleasure grounds, or for general planting, 

 no tree can be more recommendable ; and, judging from the 

 soil and situation in which it grows, it may be considered the 

 hardiest of all the Californian kinds. 



Mr. William Lobb found it in abundance on the highest 

 peaks of the Sierra Nevada, near the head waters of the north 

 tributary of Feather River, and more to the south, towards 

 Lake Bigler ; forming immense trees, in habit of growth and 

 general appearance much resembling the "Deodar," but the 

 Pattoniana being more thickly branched, and densely clothed 

 with foliage, is by far the handsomest tree. 



Mr. Jeffery, who discovered it on the Mount Baker range, in 

 Northern California, describes it as a noble tree, rising to a 

 height of 150 feet, and l'Sh feet in circumference, and towering 

 above the rest of the forest, but as it ascended the mountain, 

 it got gradually smaller, till at last it dwindled down into a 

 shrub not more than four feet high. It is found at elevations of 

 from 5000 to G000 feet, on Cascade Mountain, and on Mount 

 Baker range, in Upper California. 



It is quite hardy, and has been named by Jeffrey, in compli- 

 ment to Mr. Patton, of the Cairnies, in Scotland, a gentleman 

 much intei'ested in conifers. 



