102 1 MANUAL OF THE CONIFERS. 



country. It is perfectly hardy, and when once established, grows freely 

 in a great variety of soils, and in many aspects. It produces its 

 beautiful cones while in a young state, and seedling plants can be 

 raised without difficulty. The length of the lower branches of the 

 finest specimens at present growing in Britain, range from 15 to 18 

 feet, so that a space having a radius greater than these dimen- 

 sions must be allowed for the developement of its grand proportions. 

 The resinous secretions of A. nobilis are very abundant. The bark 

 of the trunk is generally swollen with numerous blisters from which 

 a limpid yellowish fragrant turpentine flows freely when an incision 

 is made. 



The specific name nobilis " noble," is sufficiently explained by the 

 preceding description. 



Abies Nordmanniana is a tree of stately habit, and one of 

 the handsomest of Conifers for ornamental planting ever introduced. 

 Although so closely allied to the common Silver Fir, as to be 

 regarded only as a variety, it may be easily distinguished by 

 the following characters : — The branches are horizontal, rigid, and 

 densely clothed with foliage of a beautiful deep glossy green. 

 The leaves, which are about an inch long, are stiff, coriaceous in 

 texture, and are either obtuse or emarginate at the apex, those 

 above pointing upwards and forwards, those below pointing laterally. 

 The cones are slightly ovoid, from 5 to 6 inches long, and from 

 2 J to 2 1 inches in diameter. 



Habitat. — The mountains of the Crimea and the Caucasus. In 

 the neighbourhood of Aschur, it forms large forests mixed with 

 Abies orientalis.* 



Introduced in 1848. 



Abies Nordmanniana is perfectly hardy, and thrives in a great variety 

 of soils, even in dry sandy places where many other Firs become 

 attenuated and half divested of foliage. It does not commence its 

 annual growth till summer has fairly set in, when it pushes rapidly 

 for about eight weeks, completing its growth in time for the young 

 Wood to become ripened before winter. It is rarely injured by the 

 severest frosts in this countryi 



Abies Nordmanniana sports into many varieties in the seed bed, the 

 departures from the usual type being chiefly in the foliage. 



It is named after Professor Nordmann, of Odessa^ who first discovered 

 it in the mountains of the Crimea. 



* Cari'ierc, Traite, p. 277. 



