996 



PBAGTIGAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



PICEA 



Eolle. One of the first plants raised from 

 seed in England is now growing in Kew 

 Gardens. 



Culture dc. as above. The Deo- 

 dar is now distributed throughout the 

 whole of the United Kingdom, and 

 although it sometimes suffers from severe 

 frost and bleak winds, it may be regarded 

 as perfectly hardy. It should, however, 

 in northern parts be protected by screens 

 of other trees from the north and east 

 winds, and also from south-westerly gales 

 which are apt to snap the tops off and thus 

 mar the symmetry of the tree. At Studley 

 Eoyal, Yorkshire, there is a fine specimen, 

 69 years old — doubtless one of the very 

 first plants introduced — over 70 ft. high 

 a few years ago, and having a spread of 

 over 50 ft. There are several other fine 

 specimens in the kingdom, but they are 

 neither so old nor so tall as that at Studley 

 Eoyal, although several have thicker 

 trunks. 



C. Libani {0. paiula ; Abies, Pinus, 

 and La/rix Ced/rus ; Larix patula). — 

 Cedar of Lebanon. — A majestic tree, 

 native of Mount Lebanon and Taurus in 

 Syria, with a sturdy Oak-like habit and 

 large flat horizontally spreading fan-like 

 branches forming masses of short rigid 

 leaves having a sombre appearance from 

 below, but of a bright green seen from 

 above. The cones, which are produced 

 freely in the British Islands, are oblong 

 ovoid, 3-4 in. long, at first purplish, 

 but of a soft brown when ripe, and quite 

 smooth. There are several forms of the 

 Cedar of Lebanon, that known as brevi- 

 folia, with much shorter leaves than the 

 type, being called the ' Cypress Cedar.' 

 Other forms are a/rgentea or glauca, de- 

 cidua, denudata, hyhrida, pendula, pyra- 

 midata, nana, striata dc. 



The first Cedar of Lebanon brought to 

 Europe seems to have been by Belon, who 

 introduced it to Prance in 1549. The date 

 of its introduction to England is uncertain, 

 but it does not appear to be until after 

 1664 when John Evelyn wrote his ' SUva,' 

 and does not refer to it. Perhaps the very 

 first tree introduced is a grand old speci- 

 men still flourishing at Bretby Park, 

 Derbyshire, the seat of Earl Carnarvon. 

 This notable tree was planted in the year 

 1676, and is thus 224 years old. It stands 

 on a south sloping spot, about 360 ft. above 

 sea level, in deep black loam of good 

 qaality, resting on sandy clay. It is over 



80 ft. high, and has a girth breast-high of 

 over 16 ft. The celebrated Chelsea Cedars 

 are said to have been planted in 1683, and 

 next to the Bretby Cedar are probably the 

 oldest in England; one of the tallest 

 Cedars is that at Methven Castle, Perth- 

 shire, which is over 90 ft. high. There 

 are also famous trees at He well Grange, 

 Worcestershire, over 100 years old ; at the 

 Duke of Buooleuch's gardens, Dalkeith, 

 about 180 years old ; at the Duke of 

 Leinster's, Carton, Kildare ; Woodstock, 

 Kilkenny ; Syon House, Isleworth, and 

 Kew Gardens. 



Culture dc. as above, p. 995. 



PICEA (Spruce Fib).— The leading 

 characteristics of the Spruce Eirs are, 

 according to Dr. Masters, the projecting 

 cushions at the base of the leaves, which 

 give a rough, pegged appearance to the 

 shoots ; the 4-sided leaves uniform in 

 structure; the usually pendulous woody 

 cones, ripening in the first year, and the 

 scales of which do not faU away one from 

 the other as in the Silver Firs. Bracts 

 concealed, not projecting, free from the 

 scales except at the base. Stamens in 

 spike-hke masses. Seeds small. Seed- 

 leaves 8-10, 3-sided, toothed. 



The genus Picea has been and still is 

 much confused in gardens with the genus 

 Abies, which is now confined to the SUver 

 Fbs. (See p. 1001.) 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Spruce Firs (Piceas) flourish in light 

 loamy soil, and may be increased from 

 seeds in the same way as the Pines. The 

 seeds may be sown when ripe in cold 

 frames and lightly covered with sandy 

 soil. If not sown too thickly the young 

 plants may remain in the seed-beds for a 

 couple of years, but afterwards they wiU be 

 better for transplanting in autumn. When 

 well grown in favourable situations the 

 Piceas are exceedingly beautiful and many 

 of them make excellent lawn plants. Bare 

 kinds or varieties may be increased by 

 means of grafting on stocks of commoner 

 varieties, but it will as a rule be more 

 satisfactory if the amateur obtains 

 healthy specimens fr-om a nurseryman. 



P. ajanensis (Abies ajanensis). — A 

 beautiful Spruce Fir native of Eastern 

 Siberia and Japan, where it gi-ows 70-80 

 ft. high. It has smooth brownish shoots- 

 marked with oblong smooth prominent 

 cushions, and having flattish linear oblong^ 

 bluntish leaves, twisted at the base so as 



