620 



THE SPRUCE. 



and are made up of a central axis (hanging or upright) which supports 

 a number of small overlapping scales pointing towards the tip. Each 

 scale has on its underside a pair of anther lobes. 





The Female Cones spring from the end of last year's shoot. 

 At the beginning of June they are about three inches long, beautifully 

 coloured with tints of mauve, green, and rose pink. Their con- 

 struction is very like that of the male catkin — a central axis supports 

 their loosely-arranged scales, which are soft and waxen in texture, and 

 set in spiral order overlapping one another. On the upper surface 

 of each scale and at its base are two "inverted" ovules. The seeds 

 take two years to ripen, and are then carried away by the wind 

 on the transparent wing attached to each. Before this the cone 

 has become pendent from its weight, and the scales stiff (not 

 woody) and of a light yellow-brown colour. After the seeds are 

 dispersed the cone drops off entire. The cones of the Silver Fir 

 drop to pieces instead of falling whole. Lord Avebury, in "British 



