ABIES SMITHIANA. 79 



larger than those of any of the Spruce Firs, being 6 inches long 

 and from 2 to 3 inches broad, nearly cylindrical in form, and 

 having broad smooth scales of ligneous texture, thick, with entire 

 edges turned inwards, and of a purplish-brown colour when mature. 



Habitat. — The Himalayan Mountains from Bhotan to Cashmere, 

 and throughout the whole of the forests from the Kuram district 

 to Seratigah, in Afghanistan, at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 

 12,000 feet. 



Introduced into Scotland in 1818 by Dr. Govan, of Cupar, who 

 sent cones to the Earl of Hopetown. From the seeds of these 

 cones the first plants, six in number only, were raised. 



The economic value of Abies Smithiana does not appear to be < very 

 great. Sir J. D. Hooker notes that " it has white wood, employed 

 for posts and beams,"* but the timber is soft, and although free from 

 knots, is very perishable.! Dr. Koyle states that a very fine resin 

 is secreted in the cones which, no doubt, would yield a superior tur- 

 pentine. \ 



In England Abies Smithiana, when planted in a moist soil, grows 

 almost as rapidly as the common Spruce ; in dry soils the growth is 

 slower, and the foliage becomes thin. It is quite hardy, but owing, most 

 probably, to peculiarities in the climate of the Himalayan region, and 

 the high elevation at which this Fir grows — conditions that cannot be 

 secured for it in England — failures are frequent. The plants cannot 

 receive here so long an annual period of rest as they would do on 

 their native mountains, where the winter snows cover them for four 

 or five months of the year; they start into growth in the first mild 

 days of early spring, and the tender shoots are often cut off by frosts 

 later in the season, the effect of which is to weaken permanently, if it 

 does not kill, the plants. A north-west aspect, or one shaded or protected 

 by high trees is recommended for it, provided the soil is loamy and 

 not too dry. The lower branches of some of the largest specimens of 

 A. Smithiana in this country have attained lengths of from 12 to 16 

 feet, so, that in order to secure a good specimen of this noble Fir, a 

 space having a radius greater than these dimensions must be allowed 

 for it. 



The specific name, Smithiana, was given in compliment to Mr. James 

 Smith, gardener to the Earl of Hopetown, by whom the first plants, 

 above-mentioned, were raised. 



The four following are sub-arctic trees, of which the first has not 



* Himalayan Journals, ii., p. 45. t Gordon, Pinetum, 'p. 21. 



% Botany of (he Himalayan Mountains, p. 352, 



