A. LOWIANA "7 
and are unable to obtain it elsewhere, an excellent 
opportunity is afforded to us in instituting com- 
parisons between the A. Lowiana and the A. Concolor, 
and if you want to drag in another and make con- 
fusion more confounded, the A. Lasiocarpa can be 
called in to make a third. With this latter tree we 
have dealt with in its own place, and tried to show 
that the likeness is merely a nominal mistake and 
devoid of any reality. 
As between A. Lowiana and Concolor, our instruc- 
tions are that the apex of the leaf in the Lowiana is 
notched and grooved, while A. Concolor is not notched 
and not grooved. This, if it holds good and is subject 
to no saving clauses, equivocations, or exceptions, is 
a clear and final distinction, and one moreover within 
easy scope of the ability of the humblest observers. 
The A. Lowiana belongs to a more northern tree 
region than the A. Concolor. The A. Concolor has 
the longer leaf, and both indulge in leaves with inward 
curls of a sickle-shaped form, and looking as if they 
had been subjected to an application of the curling- 
tongs from the hands of an expert barber. A habit 
which, as has been explained, saves them from 
exposing so much leaf surface to the sun. 
The Concolor is of a more glaucous colour, with a 
thicker distribution of leaves upon branchlets than 
the Lowiana. Both seem tolerably good doers in 
our climate. 
A. Firma (the Common Fir of S. Japan). 
A. HomoLepis (the Mountain Firs [Dake 
A. BRACHYPHYLLA Momi] of Central Japan). 
We have here a triplet of Japanese trees, which 
have more than done their fair share in creating 
perplexities and heart-burnings among the leading 
lights of such subjects, Whether they should have 
