COMMON, OR NORWAY SPRUCE FIR. 467 



ground, readily take root, and Loudon instances a tree at 

 Sion, which is surrounded by a double circle of young 

 trees, which have sprung from the ends of the lower side 

 branches of the original plant, and another is described 

 by Mr. Gorrie, in the " Magazine of Natural History," as 

 growing in the woods of Braco Castle, Perthshire, sur- 

 rounded by a similar offspring. 



In America, the wood of the Abies nigra is esteemed 

 for its strength, elasticity, and lightness, and is much used 

 for spars, small masts, &c. 



The Hemlock Spruce, Abies Canadensis, is a third North 

 American species, first introduced about a century ago, but 

 whose cultivation in Britain has been limited to mere orna- 

 mental purposes. In elegance of growth it surpasses either 

 of the two above-named, the branches being symmetrically 

 disposed and drooping gracefully at their extremities, the 

 foliage light, and at the same time tufted and effective. 

 Fine specimens of the Hemlock Spruce are by no means 

 common in any part of Britain, and it seems a species 

 very fastidious, both as to soil and situation. At Wo- 

 burn there are some fine examples, also at Strathfieldsay, 

 Claremont, &c. 



Amongst the species recently introduced the Abies 

 Douglasii promises to be worthy of an extended culti- 

 vation, not only as an ornamental, but as a timber tree, 

 since it exhibits a rapidity of growth and hardiness of 

 constitution equal to the Common Spruce, and may be 

 expected, in this climate, to attain dimensions sufficient 

 for every useful purpose, though perhaps far inferior to 

 those enormous specimens seen by Douglas in the regions 

 of which it is a native. It was discovered, in 1797, in 

 Nootka Sound, by Menzies, who accompanied Captain 

 Vancouver on his voyage round the world, and afterwards 



