110 A MANUAL OF THE CONIFERS. 



feet in height and from 5 to 10 feet, or even more, in diameter. At 

 Tunkra, Sir J. D. Hooker saw trees 35 feet in girth with a trunk 

 vtnbranched for 40 feet. 



The economic value of Abies Webbiana to the inhabitants of the Hima- 

 layas is considerable — "the wood splits well, is white, soft, and highly 

 prized for durability ; it is, however, loose in grain compared with that 

 of its European allies. A beautiful violet dye is extracted from the 

 young cones." A. Webbiana is considered tender in many parts of 

 England ; it begins to grow early in spring, and this early growth is 

 often cut off by frosts later in the season; but if young plants are 

 protected by a slight covering at the time these frosts occur — and so 

 small an amount of trouble is well worth taking to preserve so beautiful 

 a tree, the injury may be prevented, and as the plants become established 

 by age, they also become more acclimatised. Many fine specimens, 

 growing in various parts of England, attest this ; the lower branches 

 of the largest of these have attained lengths of from 15 to 18 feet, so 

 that in selecting a situation for this tree a space having a radius 

 greater than these dimensions should be allowed for it. 



The specific name was given by Dr. "Wallich in compliment to Captain 

 W. S. Webb, " a distinguished traveller and zealous investigator of 

 Natural History," who first discovered it. 



The five following Silver Firs, from causes referred to in the 

 descriptions, cannot be recommended for ornamental planting in 

 Great Britain. It is only under very exceptional circumstances, 

 that any of them have grown into handsome trees in this country. 



Abies cilicica. — A tree from 40 to 60 feet high, inhabiting Mount 

 Taurus, in Cilicia, in company with the Cedar of Lebanon, at an 

 elevation of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet. It somewhat resembles A. 

 Nordmanniana but its branches and foliage are more slender. The 

 leaves are linear, slightly curved or straight, blunt at the apex, those 

 clustered on the upper side of the branchlets shorter and pointing 

 forwards, those below longer and pointing laterally. It does not 

 readily accommodate itself to the climate of England ; it starts into 

 growth early in the season, and it is frequently disfigured by spring 

 frosts. 



Abies Pindrow is a noble tree inhabiting the Himalayas of 

 Bhotan, at elevations of from 9,000 to 12,000 feet. It is like A. 

 Webbiana in some respects, but may be easily distinguished from that 

 tree by its more tapering habit, longer leaves, which are less glaucous 

 beneath, and smaller cones. It was introduced into England in 1837 

 by Dr. Boyle, but it has generally failed in this country, except in 



