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fir, used in the arts and in medicine. The Japanese silver 
fir is an attractive plant, with its dark green stiff foliage. 
Veitch’s silver fir, from Japan, and said also to occur on 
the neighboring coast of Manchuria, is one of the best for 
ornamental purposes. It was discovered in 1860 on the 
famous Japanese mountain, Fuji-yama, by Mr. Veitch, 
for whom it is named. The red fir, from Washington and 
Oregon, with its blue leaves, borne almost erect and ap- 
parently on but one side of the branchlets, makes a con- 
spicuous object. In its native country it sometimes at- 
tains a height of 250 feet. Its wood is sometimes used in 
the interior finishing of buildings. Among other firs here 
are: the white fir, from western North America, sometimes 
growing to a height of 200 to 250 feet; the Siberian fir, 
from northern Europe and Asia, yielding a soft lumber in 
general use and a bark used in tanning leather; the common 
silver fir, from Europe; Nordmann’s silver fir, from the 
Caucasus; the Sicilian silver fir, from Asia Minor; and the 
Nikko silver fir, from Japan. 
The spruces (Picea) are located in the area to the north- 
east of the firs. Some of the spruces are most valuable 
timber trees. The oriental spruce, from Asia Minor, is 
present in several specimens. One of the hardiest spruces 
for our climate, and a general favorite, is the Colorado 
spruce. This will be found here in the green form; also 
variety glauca, variety Kostert, the blue color of the young 
leaves more marked than in glauca, and a pendulous form 
of variety Kosteri. It usually grows about roo feet tall 
in its native country. The Norway spruce, with a number 
of horticultural forms, are brought together to the west of 
the group of golden bells or Forsythia near the Garden 
station plaza. It is a commonly cultivated tree and 
furnishes a useful timber, which is known as ‘‘white deal”’ 
in England, and is largely used in the manufacture of 
musical instruments. ‘The resinous exudation of this tree 
is known as Burgundy pitch, which, in combination with 
other ingredients, is used in Europe to line beer casks. 
