(76) 



The nine small evergreens that are spread out east of the Noble 

 Firs and toward the Museum are 



Abies cephalonica, the Greek Fir 



The Greek Fir is a native of the higher mountains of Greece 

 and the Isle of Cephalonia once boasted a forest of this species 12 

 to 1 5 miles in length and 36 miles around. This fir is distinguished 

 from others by its departure from a general feature of the firs. 

 Its foliage is spruce-like, that is, the needles are radially arranged 

 on the twigs growing in all directions rather than in certain planes 

 as with other firs. Moreover, the leaves have spiny tips. 



Now we come to another group of taller and more developed 

 trees. The first one along the path beyond the Noble Firs is a 

 Momi P"ir (p. 73), and the second of similar size and shape is 

 another Veitch Fir. The four large and similarly shaped and 

 broader trees to the right and beyond are Nikko Firs (p. 72). 

 Beyond the one of these along the path the tree with somewhat 

 drooping branches is a Cilician Fir. To the right of it are two 

 more of similar size. The remaining eight trees along the path, 

 the first of which is the poorest specimen, are all Nikko Firs, with 

 possibly one specimen of the variety umbellata. All the remaining 

 trees in this Section east of these Nikko Firs are 



Abies concolor, the White Fir 



The White Fir is the most successful of our native firs as an 

 ornamental tree in the Eastern States. It withstands heat and 

 drought well and generally forms a very fine tree. It is fairly 

 tolerant of shade. 



In the West it is one of the largest conifers, attaining, at times, 

 a height of 250 feet. In the Rockies it is a tree of ordinary size. 

 The weak brittle wood is generally unsuitable for lumber, but 

 well adapted for butter- or lard-box material, for it is free from 

 objectionable odors. 



This fir is readily distinguished by its foliage. The leaves are 

 quite long, flat, glaucous, and curve outward and upward. The 

 bark on the trunk usually shows numerous balsam blisters whose 

 contents are employed as Canada Balsam. 



