242 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



shorter and broader than those of other firs 

 and pines, and likewise set much thicker 

 on the spray, it has a beautiful silvery appear- 

 ance when the under side is viewed, or when 

 the wind turns the branches from the eye, 

 whilst the upper surface is of the brightest 

 and handsomest green of all the species of fir. 



The silver fir throws off its lower branches 

 as it acquires age, leaving its bark smooth and 

 delicate. It grows perfectly upright, and to 

 a great height, carrying all its foliage at the 

 top, like the palm. We have lately seen two 



trees of this kind in the Hare garden of 



Sargeson, Esq. near Cuckfield, which, for size 

 and beauty are not exceeded by any trees of 

 this kind in the kingdom. The cones of this 

 fir are of considerable size and beauty. Tour- 

 nefort tells us in his travels that he has re- 

 ceived cones of this fir from mount Olympus, 

 upwards of a foot in length. 



The pinus picea is a native of Switzerland 

 and Germany, Dauphine, Austria, Siberia, 

 mount Caucasus, &c. Evelyn is the earliest 

 author who notices the tree in this country. 

 He tells us, in 1663, that there were then two 

 silver firs growing in Harefield Park, Middle- 

 sex, belonging to Mr. Serjeant Newdigate, 

 that were planted there in 1603, at two years' 

 growth from the seed, the biggest of which 



