THE PINE SUB-FAMILY. 209 



ers who have tried it, we are at present unprepared to 

 class it among our hardy plants ; and we greatly fear it 

 will not succeed, although it comes from high altitudes. 



' Cj C3 



GROUP II. BREVIBKACTEATA. 



31 . At amabilis, Lindley. LOVELY SILVER FIR. Syn. 

 Abies lasiocarpa, Lindley; Pinus amabilis, Douglns; Picea 

 amabilis, London. Leaves, 1 to 1^ inch long, linear, 

 flat, obtuse, crowded, entire, incurved, light green above-, 

 glaucous below. Branches, numerous, horizontal, and 

 spreading. Cones, 6 inches long and 2^ inch in diam- 

 eter, cylindrical ; with round, entire, smooth scales, and 

 very short, pointed bracts. Seeds soft and angular, with 

 a membranaceous wing. 



This lovely tree is one of the most desirable Conifers 

 from our northwestern coast. It was discovered by 

 Douglas, and subsequently found by Jeffrey growing on 

 the mountains at an elevation of 4,000 feet, and forming 

 gigantic specimens 250 feet in height, when in gravelly 

 soil. The trunks were frequently 5 feet in diameter, with 

 GO feet of the main body of the tree entirely destitute of 

 branches. Its principal locality is on the moiintains east 

 of Fraser's River, in Northern California, in latitude 50. 



Although as yet very rare, and the plants in this section 

 of the country necessarily quite small, we feel assured that 

 in time the A. amabilis will be ranked as one of 

 our most desirable trees ; and certainly, if hardy, it will 

 be greatly admired for the peculiar loveliness of its whole 

 aspect. From all that we can learn, those who have 

 tested it find it entirely hardy. 



"VVe must acknowledge a strong partiality in favor of 

 these native Conifers, and as they are unexcelled, and 

 even unequalled in the whole world, we have the greatest 

 desire to see them acclimated with us. 



