160 THE FOREST TREE CULTURIST. 
stout curved branches, variable in appearance ; sometimes 
the leaves are dark green, in others reddish or light yellow 
green. It is quite large, and its wood similar to hemlock, 
but more firm. 
AsrEs ALBA ( White or Single Sprucec).—Very similar to 
_ the last; but the general appearance of the tree when 
young is lighter colored; it loses its beauty with age; 
cones slightly longer than the Red Spruce, and more firm, 
These last two varieties should give way to that more 
beautiful European variety the 
ABIES EXCELSA (Norway Spruce).—This is a magnificent 
tree, and succeeds in almost any good rich soil; it grows 
very rapidly, and retains its beautiful proportions until of 
great age; trees of fifty or more feet in height are quite 
common in the old gardens throughout the Eastern 
States, as well as in some of the Western. Seeds are 
always to be had of our seedsmen, and are easily grown 
in frames. 
Some of the new varieties which have been lately dis- 
covered among the Rocky Mountains will no doubt be 
acquisitions to this class of Evergreen trees. Several of 
these grow to an immense height, often over two hundred 
feet high. ‘Trees of most of our far Western varieties are 
to be had from our largest nurseries, but at very high 
prices. The cones of some of these trees are really won- 
derful in their structure, as well as beautiful. 
The following give promise of being hardy, even in the 
Northern States: 
ABIES BRACTEATA (Leafy-coned Silver Fir), found in 
Upper California and in Oregon. [have received cones of 
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