GENUS PICEA. 77 



appearance of fair-sized specimens is irregularly pyramidal. 

 Of a dark glossy green and slightly paler beneath are the 

 thickly arranged leaves, these being stiff and | of an inch in 

 length. Cones pendent, 2| inches long, by { of an inch in 

 diameter at thickest part, ovate-oblong, and tapering gradually 

 to a point. They are, in a young state, thickly covered with 

 resin, so much so that both the shape and size are quite lost 

 to view, this, however, ultimately disappearing. This tree 

 suffers much from stem-pruning ; indeed, more so than almost 

 any other of its tribe, resin oozing in quantity from the wound 

 long after amputation of a branch has taken place. The 

 timber is of fair quality, and resembles that of the Norway 

 spruce ; but the rate of production is slow, a height of 50 feet 

 having only been attained under very favourable conditions 

 in forty-three years. The tree being very sturdy and hardy, 

 is well suited for standing alone, even in exposed situations 

 where many other conifers would suffer considerably. 



P. oriental is aurea has many of the branch-tips 

 suffused with greenish yellow. It is a worthy variety. 



P. oriental is pygrmsea is of dwarf neat growth, and 

 makes an excellent border or rock shrub, 



P. polita, Carriere. {Synonyms: Abies Torano, Sie- 

 bold ; A polita, Siebold and Zuccarini.) Mountains of Japan. 

 1 861. This is one of the handsomest and hardiest of the 

 Japanese conifers. The branches are stout and horizon- 

 tally arranged, the leaves long, curved, and four-sided, broad 

 at the base, tapering to a stiff point, and pale green in 

 colour. Cones 3|- inches long by i\ inches broad, at first 

 erect and pale green, but afterwards pendent and ruddy-brown 

 in colour. A distinguishing characteristic is the large, globose, 

 reddish-brown buds. The tree is of slow growth when 

 young, but after the age of about ten years it shoots away 

 freely, and is then a distinct and handsome specimen for the 

 lawn or park. 



P. pungfens, Engelmann. {Synonyms: Picea Parry- 

 ana commutata of gardens ; Abies or Picea Engelmanni of 

 gardens.) Mountains of Wyoming, Utah, and California. 



