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twenty-five smaller ones in two rows at the southern end extending 

 westward down the slope are 



Abies Veitchii, Veitch's Fir 



An additional tree of this kind is mixed in with the Nikko Firs. 

 It stands at the western side of the group and just north of the 

 last two Nikko Firs. 



From the Nikko Fir this new kind may be distinguished by its 

 shorter prominent whitish leaves and by its more slender shoots, 

 which are pubescent. The small resinous purplish buds, too, are 

 quite distinctive. 



Veitch's Fir is the smallest of the Japanese firs, though it may 

 attain a height of 80 and even 100 feet. It is typically alpine 

 rarely descending below 3,000 feet. Its wood is of no particular 

 value in Japan, but in this country the species ranks as an orna- 

 mental tree next to the Nikko Fir among the Asiatic species. In 

 Japan it is known as Shirdbiso, Shirabe-momi, and Shira-tsuga. 



In the two parallel rows of trees containing the twenty-five 

 Veitch's Firs along the flower bed at the south end of this Section, 

 there are actually twenty-eight trees. The sixth in the inner row 

 proceeding down the slope is noticeably different from the sur- 

 rounding Veitch Firs, particularly in its branches and buds. We 

 should recognize it as Nikko Fir. The flat-topped and tallest tree 

 in the two rows that stands next to the last in the outside row 

 going down the slope is 



Abies Momi or A. firma, the Momi Fir 



This is one of the most distinct of firs and can scarcely fail to 

 impress one by its very broad, long, light-colored, almost yellow- 

 green needles. They stand out very rigidly in a single plane from 

 two sides of the branchlets in the manner of the teeth of a comb. 

 Each leaf generally bears two teeth at the end; and the shoots 

 are grooved. 



This is the only fir known from southern Japan, where it is 

 regarded as the largest and handsomest of the genus. It attains 

 heights up to 150 feet and ascends to 7,000 feet elevation. It is 

 much cultivated in temple grounds and parks in Japan. The soft, 



