SPRUCE FIRS. 13 



quarters of an mch long, and soon falling off after the first 

 season, leaving the branches very naked, warted, and with a 

 jointed appearance. Buds ovate-pointed and covered with 

 resin. Cones 3 inches long and 1 to IJ inch broad, pendulous, 

 cylindrical, blunt-pointed, and with the scales loose, and not 

 compact. Scales elliptical, three-quarters of an inch long, and 

 having a shrivelled, brown appearance, with the margin thin, 

 very irregularly toothed or bitten. Bracteas small, and hidden 

 by the scales. Seeds very small and winged. 



A taU tree, growing 60 or 70 feet high, with a pyramidal, 

 thickly-branched head, and silvery appearance. Timber of 

 excellent quality. 



It is found abundantly in Northern California, and on the 

 island of Sitcha, also growing in the Shasta country, in rather 

 moist situations along the banks of rivers, in deep alluvial soil 

 100 feet high. 



Abies Menziesii ckispa, AntoiTie. 



This variety only differs from the species, in having the 

 margins of the scales, on the cones, more undulated or some- 

 what jagged, and more extended. 



No. 7. Abies nigra, Michaux, the Black Spruce Fir. 



Syn. Abies Mariana, Miller. 

 „ „ denticulata, Poiret. 

 „ Picea nigra, Linh. 

 „ Pinus nigra, Alton. 

 „ „ Mariana, jDw Roi. 

 „ „ Marylandica, Booth. 



Leaves solitary, regularly spreading all round the branches, 

 and somewhat four-sided, very short and stiff, of a sombre dark 

 green, half an inch long, thickly set and erect. Branches hori- 

 zontalj or very slightly drooping at the ends. Cones pendulous, 

 egg-shaped from 1 J to If inch long, and nearly three-quarters 

 of an inch broad, deep purple when young, but when ripe of a 



