When Douglas fir is planted as an ornamental the growth is erect and 

 very rapid. It has graceful proportions and a rich, dark green foliage which 

 has a feathery appearance on the pendulous branchlets. The pendent cones 

 add to its beauty. It is adaptive to soils, but prefers lighter ones. To empha- 

 size its beauty it is best planted as a single tree. 



FIRS 



The true firs (Abies) embrace some twenty-three species which chiefly 

 occur in the mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere. That fir has 

 a place in history is revealed by Virgil's description of the wooden horse of 

 Troy which was constructed from fir from Mount Ida: 



"The leaders of the Greeks * * * build, with the aid of the 

 divine skill of Pallas, a horse as huge as a mountain, and form the 

 sides of interlacing planks of fir." 



In these days fir is not highly regarded as a timber tree on the Pacific 

 Coast where about a third of all known species are native, but it has a high 

 value as an ornamental tree. The firs are distinguished for their symmetry 

 and formal branch habit. The branches are arranged in tiers, and by side 

 branching form wide, flat sprays, covered with blunt-pointed, flat leaves, the 

 under sides of which are a silvery-white. The needles are stemless, and the 

 cones, which are erect, fall to pieces at maturity, leaving a slender, woody axis 

 on the tree. 



The firs endure much shade, and make a rapid growth in a cool, moist 

 atmosphere and on a well-drained soil. They are rather short-lived and are 

 apt to suffer from drought, frost and fungi. 



WHITE FIR 



White fir (Abies concolor) also known as silver fir, is a beautiful tree that 

 is common in the Sierra region of California. It has long, slender, light-green 

 needles which form a decided contrast with its ashy-gray bark. The growth 

 is very regular and symmetrical, which makes the tree effective whether in 

 groups or singly in the park or lawn. 



NORDMAN'S SILVER FIR 



Nordman's silver fir (Abies nordmanniana) is a native of the Caucasus 

 Mountains, where it attains a height of 1 50 feet. Under cultivation it grows 



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