Picea 



J39 1 



Distribution and Cultivation 



P. pungens is very restricted in its area of distribution, and is nowhere abundant, 

 growing usually as isolated trees or in small groves on the banks and terraces of 

 streams at 6500 to 10,000 ft. elevation. It is met with in Colorado, eastern Utah, 

 New Mexico, 1 and in Wyoming, extending in the latter state as far north as the 

 Wind River mountains. 



ThL species was discovered 2 in 1862 on Pike's Peak in Colorado by Dr. C. C. 

 Parry, who sent seeds in the following year to the Botanic Garden of Harvard 

 University. One of the earliest plants 3 raised had attained in 1883 16 ft. in height 

 in Prof. Sargent's garden at Brookline, Massachusetts. Waterer 4 in 1877 took 

 cuttings from this tree, which were propagated in his nursery at Knap Hill ; and, 

 doubtless, from these are derived most of the older specimens growing in England. 

 Seeds 3 were again collected in Colorado by Roezl, from which some of the trees on 

 the Continent may have originated. 



It has been largely planted on account of its beautiful foliage ; but has nowhere, 

 so far as we know, attained large dimensions, and seems only suitable as an orna- 

 ment in gardens. It has lately been attacked by a fungus. 5 



There are good specimens, about 30 ft. high, of both the green and glaucous 

 varieties at Highnam, which were bearing cones in March 19 10. A glaucous tree 

 at Aldenham also bore cones in 1909. Mr. A. B. Jackson in 191 1 reported two 

 good trees, 35 and 33 ft. high, at Yattendon Court, Berks. 



According to Schwappach, 6 this tree may prove valuable for planting in northern 

 Germany, where it not only supports the cold of winter without injury, but is hardier 7 

 against late frosts than any other conifer. It grows well on moist soils, and thrives 

 even on wet soils, which are unsuitable for P. excelsa or even for P. sitchensis ; and 

 on account of the sharp-pointed needles, it is not attacked by deer or squirrels. It 

 has been tried at nineteen stations, the total area of the experimental plots being 

 fifteen acres. It grows slowly at first, averaging in the fifth year 12 to 20 in. high, 

 and in the tenth year 2\ ft. to 4 ft. 8 in. 



According to Sargent, it has been much planted in the United States as an 

 ornamental tree, on account of its handsome pyramidal habit ; but trees with bluish 

 foliage lose in a few years much of their colour, and the older trees, 30 to 40 ft. in 

 height, are losing their lower branches, so that their pyramidal habit is spoiled. 



(A. H.) 



1 Britton and Shafer, N. Amer. Trees, 60 (1908), give New Mexico as a habitat for this species ; but I have seen no 

 specimens. 



2 According to Sargent in Card. Monthly, quoted in Woods and Forests, 1885, p. S3, trees of this species were trans- 

 planted from Colorado to Iowa in i860, and proved very hardy. 



3 Gard Chron. xx. 725, fig. 130 (1883). * Gard. Chron. vii. 48 and 562 (1877). 



5 Borthwick, in Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin, xxiii. 232 (1906), and Notes R. Bot. Gard. Edin. 1909, p. 260, plate 50, states 

 that this fungus, which he names Cucurbitaria piceae, attacks the buds, and produces large black conical swellings, in which 

 numerous fructifications of the fungus occur. The bud is either immediately destroyed, or it may produce a twisted cankered 

 shoot which frequently dies off at an early period. 



6 Anbauversuche mil Frcmdland. Hokarten, 49 (1901). 



This is also the case in my experimental ground at Colesborne, where late frosts have severely injured all the other 

 spruces. H. J. E. 



VI I 



