THE BEST HARDY CONIFERS 119 



rapidly. From Britain it was introduced into eastern 

 North America, but in the colder parts of this country 

 it proved to be not hardy. In 1862, it was most for- 

 tunately discovered at high elevations in Colorado, 

 and seeds from this source have given us a race of 

 perfectly hardy and quick-growing trees. In the 

 Arnold Arboretum trees forty years of age are fifty feet 

 and more tall, and others about fifteen years old are 

 eighteen to twenty-five feet tall. The lower branches 

 of these trees sweep the ground and the others are in- 

 clined upward and have a plume-like appearance. 

 The leaves vary from dark green to glaucous. 



The uninitiated may distinguish this tree from all 

 other Conifers by its relatively long, conical, sharp- 

 pointed winter buds. Either as a lawn tree, or for 

 avenues, or for massing, Douglas Fir is equally valu- 

 uable and it needs no recommendation. 



Perhaps no Conifer has been received into popular 

 favor more readily than the Colorado Blue Spruce 

 (Picea pungens), and certainly none has been more 

 extensively planted. Lately there has been some out- 

 cry against it, but as a young tree it is undeniably 

 beautiful. It has taken very kindly to cultivation 

 and is very hardy. One cannot object to it on the 

 lawns of suburban gardens or even on those of country 

 estates; but the indiscriminate manner in which it has 



