THE SPRUCE. 



619 



j 







- ; :n'%|^ 



uO 





'\ Wu 







^JkSH^BP 1 ^^ ~j. 



- - 





srSbm 







OPENING BUDS. 



of an inch, and they are arranged singly on all sides of the twig 

 and form spiral rows. 



THE FLOWERS AND CONES . 



The male and female flowers are produced on the same tree. 

 The Male Flowers appear about the end of April or early in May, 

 and they grow out singly from last year's twigs. They are about 

 one to two inches in length, and coloured a pale fresh brown with 

 pink tips. At first they are partially covered with shining skin-like 

 bud scales ; these stick together, and later on become detached in masses. 

 When the flower-cone is hilly ripe it is covered with bright yellow 

 pollen. Usually there are three to six male Mowers on a twig. In 

 1 onstruction the (lowers resemble those of the Scotch Fir and Larch, 



