THE PIXE SUB-FAMILY. 171 



Schrenkiana, Llndley, etc., etc. Leaves, from to 1 inch 

 long, thickly scattered, slender, straight, sharply acute, 

 "bright green color. Branches and branchlets quite nu- 

 merous, Avhorled, rigid, spreading, Avith numerous very 

 small, dark colored buds. Cones, from 2 to :M- inches 

 long, obovate, with loose, entire, wedge-shaped scales. 



This species very closely resembles the A. Orientalis, 

 and by some modern botanists is thought to be identical 

 with it. Gordon contends, however, that it is very dis- 

 tinct from the latter, and in the absence of sufficient per- 

 sonal knowledge we have adopted his views. 



The Obovate-coned Spruce also resembles the Norway 

 Spruce in its general characteristics, but is much more 

 dense and compact in growth than the latter, being sup- 

 plied with an almost innumerable quantity of small 

 branchlets, thus imparting a certain beauty to the tree 

 that is scarcely ever found in the latter species. The 

 color of the leaves of the A. obovata is said to be usually 

 of a paler green, amounting in some instances to a yellow- 

 ish-green, but such specimens as have come under the 

 writer's observation have been uniformly very dark. 



This species is found most plentifully on the Altai 

 Mountains in Siberia, at elevations varying from 4,000 to 

 5,000 feet, and is consequently hardy throughout the 

 Northern States. Its greatest height is perhaps 100 feet, 

 but according to some writers it diminishes in stature and 

 foliage, according to soil, situation, and elevation, and like 

 all other coniferous trees from northern regions is subject 

 to great variation in appearance. 



Having tested this species for several years without pro- 

 tection, and proven it to be entirely hardy and perfectly 

 adapted to a variety of soils, we feel no hesitation in rec- 

 ommending it to those who have a large collection ; but 

 for small plantations we are under the impression it will 

 never be popular, owing to its close resemblance in many 

 respects to our favorite Norway Spruce ; however, at a 



