CONIFERS 57 



difficult, most of them being raised from seeds, some from cuttings, 

 some by either method, while some few must be grafted. In sug- 

 gesting the methods of propagation it may prevent repetition if we 

 here say that when we say " from seeds " we mean that seeds should 

 be sown in pans in May or June and raised in cold frames ; when 

 we say " by cuttings " we refer to the methods explained in Chap- 

 ter III ; and when we say " by grafts " we mean according to the 

 details recorded in the chapter on " grafting." 



ABIES (SPRUCE) 



This species of fir contains varieties ranging from the dwarf 

 " pygmea " to the lofty-growing " Douglassi," one of the tallest of 

 our forest trees, which is largely planted partly because it is a very 



FIG. 22. Abies kostert (the Blue Spruce) 



ornamental tree and is, beside, the most aromatic of all the conifers 

 and will thrive on light soils. The common Christmas tree (A. 

 excelsa) is included in this family and is only a market tree because 



