(61) 



Let us now go south along' the ascending path on which we 

 started. Near the top of the incline we come to a fine collection 

 of spruces that stand just across the path from the Colorado Blue 

 and Roster's Blue-Spruces in Section 1. The first ten trees on 

 our right, some of which stand behind others, are 



Picea pungens, the Colorado Spruce 



This is the tree of which the beautiful blue forms that we con- 

 sidered on the other side of the path are variations. This green 

 form is more or less rare, for the great majority of these trees 

 show some degree of blueness. 



This tree, too, is very fine for decorative purposes, but has the 

 same failing as the blue forms, losing its lower limbs in later years. 

 With its numerous color gradations it occurs wild in New Mexico, 

 Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, at elevations ranging from 6,000 

 to 10,000 feet. It may attain a height there of 150 feet. In addi- 

 tion to its names of Colorado and Colorado Blue-Spruce it is also 

 known as Parry's Spruce, Prickly Spruce, White Spruce, Silver 

 Spruce, and locally merely as Spruce or Balsam. 



Next to its distinctive color in certain individuals the most 

 characteristic feature about this tree is the general character of 

 the foliage. The needles are relatively long, stiff-pointed, and 

 project forward and outward from all sides of the twigs. The 

 main branches, furthermore, are quite horizontal and occur in 

 whorls. 



The soft weak wood of this tree has little commercial value and 

 is used only locally. 



The next seven bluish trees are all Colorado Blue-Spruces. 



Beyond them and near the path is another blue but very low 

 nearly prostrate evergreen. It is 



Picea pungens var. glauca pendula, Weeping Colorado 

 Blue-Spruce 



This is merely a pendulous form of the blue varieties which 

 originated in Holland. Another and bigger specimen of this form 

 stands propped up between the road and path near the north end 

 of Section 1 of the spruces. 



