GENUS PICEA. 71 



silvery-white beneath, the latter being more pronounced and 

 beautiful in this than almost any other member of the family. 

 Both male and female cones are plentifully produced, the latter 

 when fully grown, but before becoming ripe, being of a beauti- 

 ful purple colour, and adding quite a charm to the specimen. 



It is rendered, by its undoubted hardihood, freedom of 

 growth, and beautifully furnished habit, a particularly choice 

 species for planting as a standard specimen. The healthiest 

 and largest tree of this kind that I have seen is growing at 

 Ochtertyre, in Scotland.^ P. ajanensis microspernia is a dis- 

 tinct variety. 



P. aBba,, Link. {^Synonyms: Abies alba^ Michaux ; A. 

 canadensis^ Miller ; Pimis alba, Lambert ; Abies rubra ccErulea^ 

 Loudon ; A. ccsruiea, Forbes ; P. nigra glauca, Carri^re ; 

 Abies arctica^ Murray.) Arctic North America, and South to 

 New England. About 1700. For planting in this country 

 the so-called white spruce cannot be recommended, it being 

 at the best short-lived, not very ornamental, and of no value 

 as a timber producer. Growing in cool yellow loam, I have, 

 however, seen a small number of specimens thriving nicely; 

 but it should be stated that these were under fifteen years 

 planted. It is of neat, conical outline, well branched, and the 

 foliage like our common spruce, but much lighter in colour. 

 Cones are produced freely, these being dull brown when 

 ripe, and i^ inches long. There is a variety P. alba ccBrulea. 



P. Alcockianai Masters. {Synonyms: Abies Alcockiana^ 

 Veitch; Picea bicolor^ Maximowicz ; A. acicularis of gardens.) 

 Mountains of Japan. 1861. Whether this is a distinct 

 species, or simply a form of P. ajanensis^ cannot at present be 

 well defined. The appearance of young trees, sent from a 

 reliable source under the present name, is certainly different 

 from that of P. ajanensis, the foliage being more needle-like 

 and less flat, far more prickly, and the colour not so decided 

 a silvery tint. It grows quite freely, and has formed a dense 



^ The collections of coniferous trees at Ochtertyre, Murthly Castle, and several 

 other estates in Perthshire, are particularly rich ; while the individual specimens 

 have a more robust and healthy appearance than I have noticed in almost any 

 other part of the British Isles. 



