THE NEWER EVERGREEN ORNAMENTAL TREES. 485 



Spruce fir, seldom growing more than a bushof three or four 

 feet, and perfectly hardy, all over the United States. 



A. a. glauca.A. very distinct and striking variety of the 

 American White spruce, with very white, silvery leaves 

 originating in England, but hardy here. 



A. a. minima. Another minute English variety, being 

 the dwarfest of all the spruces ; and we presume would be 

 hardy in this country. 



A. Brunoniana (the Indian hemlock spruce). Classed by 

 Syn, Carriere among the Tsugas, those kinds with 



A. dumosa. fl at i eaveSj mostly glaucous below. 



We are somewhat perplexed in making up our mind about 

 the future condition of this charming tree, as to its availability. 

 If it succeed at all, it will certainly require a good deal of 

 coaxing. Our own experience has been very various. It has 

 stood some winters well, and others, not as cold but possibly 

 damper, seem to have destroyed it ; and yet, Mr. Smith writes 

 us from Newport, it has stood there three years. At Wash- 

 ington it is reported tender, as well as at Philadelphia, Flush- 

 ing, and at Mr. Reids' nursery at Elizabethtown. We do not, 

 however, see why it may not eventually prove hardy after a 

 little acclimatization, since Dr. Hooker found it in Sikkin 

 at an elevation of nine thousand to ten thousand feet on the 

 side of Kunchinjinga, probably the loftiest peak in the world, 

 where it reaches a height of seventy to eighty feet. Most per- 

 sons would take it for a hemlock spruce, except that the under 

 part of the leaves are perfectly white, forming, when moved by 

 the wind, a beautiful blending of green and silver. 



A. excelsa pygmcea a very pretty dwarf variety of the Nor- 

 way spruce, not exceeding a foot or so in height, but spreading 

 very much. The specimens in our grounds do not seem affect- 

 ed by the severest winters. 



A. e. monstrosa. Another hardy variety of Norway spruce, 

 with straggling habit, but destitute of branchlets, somewhat re- 

 sembling the araucaria imbricata in appearance. 



A. e. pendula. Also a seedling of the Norway spruce, dif- 

 fering only in having its branches more drooping ; hardy. 



A. e. variegata. A Variegated variety of our common Nor- 

 way, pretty, distinctive, and hardy. 



