138 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



ever, even in exposed situations, not browning nor killing back 

 in any way during the most trying winters. 



The two firs of the eastern parts of North America have 

 both been under cultivation at the Garden for several years. 

 Both of these, Abies balsamea and A. Fraseri,, the latter re- 

 stricted to the southern mountains, are not desirable as orna- 

 mental trees. With us they are slow growers and of doubtful 

 stability, the alternate freezing and thawing, perhaps, being the 

 cause of this. 



Abies Cephalonica, from elevations of 2,500 to 5,000 feet in 

 Greece, stands the winters well. A. Cilicica, from altitudes of 

 4,000 to 6,500 feet in Asia Minor, is also hardy. This is an- 

 other example of the strange difference in hardiness in this lati- 

 tude of two plants which are often associated together in a wild 

 state. Abies Cilicica and Cedrus Libani are said to be constantly 

 found growing together, and yet the latter has proved entirely 

 unfit to stand our winters, while the Abies has been grown in 

 an exposed situation with success for the past four years. Abies 

 Numidica, an associate of Cedrus Atlantica in the Atlas Moun- 

 tains, has been represented by a single specimen in the pinetum 

 for the past four years. It is still in good condition, but it does 

 not grow very fast. Abies Picea, or A. pectinata, as it is more 

 frequently called, is the common silver fir of central and southern 

 Europe. It is said to attain its greatest development in the 

 humid mountain tracts of central Europe, a reason, perhaps, for 

 its unsatisfactory behavior here. It comes through the winters 

 alive, but it is apt to brown badly, and does not grow rapidly. 



Pseudotsuga mucronata, which has, perhaps, as wide and 

 extensive a range as any American conifer, is one of the best 

 for this latitude. Its wide range indicates its ability to adapt 

 itself to a variety of conditions, and it makes one of the best 

 and handsomest trees in this neighborhood, not even the most 

 severe winters harming it in the least. Its dark green foliage 

 is a delight in the winter time, and in the spring the fresh green 

 of the young shoots in contrast with the dark green of the older 

 branches, makes it most attractive. 



The pines, often residents of dry or cold regions, lend 

 themselves more readily to cultivation in this region than do 



