212 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



At first glance, the Great Silver Fir would most likely 

 be taken for a splendid, specimen of the Common Silver 

 Fir, but on a closer inspection its real character and beauty 

 become apparent. The long, deep green, and shining 

 foliage, placed regularly in two rows; the exact system 

 of whorls of the branches; the strong, vigorous growth 

 of the plant ; together with its great hardiness and adapt- 

 ability to our climate, are undoubtable proofs of its future 

 usefulness as an ornamental tree with us. 



Of all the new and rare Conifers that it lias been our 

 pleasure to test, -not one exceeds this in our estimation. 

 We have grown it in the open air for 10 years, and, en- 

 tirely unprotected, it has withstood the most severe cold 

 and intense heat, with equal and unvarying success. Our 

 oldest specimen is the admiration of every one who has 

 beheld it, and is a living proof of its availability to our 

 cultivators in the Middle States. The above named plant 

 is growing in a well drained, turfy, loose soil, but how it 

 might be affected by a clayey or retentive subsoil, we are 

 unable to judge. As to protection during winter, the above 

 plant has not needed the slightest. When only six inches 

 in height it was placed in its present position, and has 

 been fully exposed ever since. 



The wood, according to Xuttall, "was found to be soft, 

 white, and coarse-grained, yet very well suited for floor- 

 ing and other purposes, where better timber could not be 

 had." 



Var, Lowiana, Syn. Picea Lowiana, Gordon. Low's 

 CALIFORNIA^ SILVER FIR. Syn. P. gramlis, Lobb, not 

 Doi<f/las. Loaves, from 1^- to 24- inches long, quite 

 straiglit, rather distant, dull glaucous green above, two 

 faint glaucous bands below. Cones, from 34- to 5 inches 

 long, and l.V inches broad. (Extracted from Gordon, hi 

 tSttp. to Pinetum.) 



This new Silver Fir, according to Gordon, was first dis- 

 covered and introduced into England by W. Lobb, the 



