HOOKERIANA OR PATTONIANA 129 
added the latest Chinese importation, and _ this 
specimen we will eliminate from our discussions 
summarily, with the remark that the descriptions of 
the newly imported Western China trees are re- 
servoirs that so far even the most athirst can only 
hope to sip from. 
Before instituting any comparison of the differences 
of the remaining more fraternal seven, we can dismiss 
from troubling us, upon any question of identifying, 
the T. Pattoniana, and for the reason that it does 
not conform to the in other cases strictly observed 
custom of wearing the leaves in pectinate arrange- 
ment. Besides this unorthodox radial arrangement 
of its much narrower leaves, it breaks another rule 
by sporting stomatic bands on both the upper and 
lower side of its leaves. These traits in its character 
render it easily distinguishable from other Hemlock 
Spruces ; but before leaving the subject of this West 
American tree, variously alluded to as Hookeriana, 
Mertensiana, and Pattoniana, we should like to add 
a personal expression of opinion upon it. Notwith- 
standing these deviations from the paths of strict 
Hemlock Sprucian rectitude, this tree, which was 
introduced in 1854, has undoubtedly winning ways 
with it. From all accounts, it prefers a certain 
humidity of atmosphere ; and had it lived in mytho- 
logical days, doubtless it would have been committed 
to the care of Dione, the goddess of moisture, or to 
some clique of sorrowing and Stellular Sisters whose 
mission it was to shed tears and produce rain-drops. 
Had it been relegated to the especial attention of the 
great cloud-compellor himself, Jupiter, son of Kronos 
and lord of the storm-cloud, it would have deserved 
the high patronage showered upon it. Whatever is 
required to be showered upon it, and whatever is 
showered upon it, we firmly believe that blessings 
will be bountifully poured by posterity upon those 
