168 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



of this tree by J. Jay Smith, Esq. : " Menzies' Spruce ap- 

 pears to thrive best in situations where the soil is moist 

 for the greater part of the year; in low bottoms, not ab- 

 solutely flooded, with a moist atmosphere, it grows ex- 

 tremely fast. 



" It is likewise found to thrive well in Scotland, and of 

 course in our northern and central regions; on the most 

 exposed moors it never suffers, but, on the contrary, the 

 peaty soil and humid atmosphere appear favorable to its 

 growth. On dry soils it frequently loses a portion of its 

 leaves during the dry weather, and this gives it a shabby 

 appearance and has led some to condemn it. In such situ- 

 ations it should be liberally supplied with water during 

 the growing season." 



The general form of the tree is a perfect cone with a 

 straight leading shoot, and mostly a very compact and 

 well regulated head ; this is somewhat stiff and formal in 

 outline, somewhat of the character of 'the White Spruce. 

 The foliage is of that peculiar commingling of green and 

 silver so admired in the glaucous-leaved evergreens. The 



* d" tj 



cones are particularly conspicuous, being very numerous, 

 crowded, and when young, almost white in appearance. 



In propagating the A. Menziesii, the stock of young 

 plants may very readily and rapidly be increased by means 

 of "heeled cuttings," that is, young branchlets taken off 

 with a small portion of the older wood attached. As a 

 general rule the species of Abies will all root more or less 

 easily, the Firs with some difficulty, and the Pines very 

 rarely, excepting in the hands of skillful gardeners. 



Douglas states that the timber furnished by this species 

 is of excellent quality, and Dr. Parry found it " a finely 

 shaped tree, though of rather stiff outline, of rapid growth ; 

 wood very compact, but rather coarse-grained and pitchy ; 

 the logs taper too rapidly to saw up to advantage." 



Var. crispa, Antoine. Mentioned by Gordon as differ- 



