290 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



climate it is only in early age that this tree is usually con- 

 sidered very hardy or desirable, here, is in perfect condition 

 and great beauty, and so are good specimens of A. 

 cephalonica, A. cilicia, one of the best of all firs in our 

 climate, and A. Apollhiis. A remarkably slender and 

 compact pyramidal form of the fir of Europe, A. pedinata, 

 is one of the most noteworthy plants in the collection. 



" Among the spruces, Picea orientalis takes the lead in 

 beauty and vigor. This tree, so far as is possible to judge 

 at this time, is one of the handsomest and most satisfactory 

 of all the exotic conifers which have been brought into our 

 gardens. The Colorado spruce, P. pungens and P. Engel- 

 ^nanni, are in good condition ; indeed, the hardiness and 

 vigor of these two trees seem able to resist any sort of 

 climate or soil that can be found in the northern or middle 

 states. The tide-water spruce, of the north-west coast, P. 

 sitchensis, is ragged and unsatisfactory, and appears to suffer 

 from the cold of the Pennsylvania winters, and the long, 

 hot, dry summers. On the other hand, P. Smithiana, of the 

 Himalayas, is in excellent condition, and promises to grow 

 into a large and beautiful tree. A remarkably fine plant of 

 what is known as Whale's Norway spruce, a pendulous- 

 branched sport of the Norway spruce, which originated 

 many years ago near Boston, will interest those who care for 

 trees of monstrous form. 



"There are no remarkable specimens of Juniperus in 

 the collection, and the Cedars have all gone, although in a 

 neighboring garden there is a good plant of the Lebanon 

 variety. There is a healthy little specimen of the western 

 mountain hemlock, Tsuga Pattoniana. There is a fair, but 

 not a remarkable specimen of the Japanese Sciadopitys, and 



