46 



PINACE^. 



recurved backwards ; on tlie laterals somewhat two rowed and recnryed 

 downwards; on the lower side very few indeed; and on the upper 

 side a few small-sized ones pointing to the top of the shoot ; deep 

 green above and silvery banded when young ; but, when old, most of 

 the silver disappears, and the leaves assume a darker shade. 



Cones^ from four to six inches long, and from two to three inches 

 broad ; somewhat egg-shaped, erect on the shoots ; at first greenish 

 purple, increasing in darkness as they increase in age : scales rounded, 

 broad, entire, and thick margined ; bracts large, projecting and reflex- 

 ing over the scales ; seeds large, angular, soft, and winged. 



Branches, the leading shoots rampant, soft, and spongy, the laterals 

 more regular and uniform in growth ; and all of them very irregularly 

 disposed ; when young sometimes more or less downy or hairy ; but 

 when old generally all smooth and clean : bark brown and smooth ; 

 buds inclined to start growing in autumn, and often injured by early 

 and hard winter frosts. 



It attains heights of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet ; 

 and forms a handsome thin and irregular branched tree with smooth 

 dark brown bark. It has quasis few, but synonyms many, all of 

 which will be found in the Appendix. 



It requires the best soils, warmest and best situations in this country; 

 and is, even then, frequently injured as it grows late ; its young 

 growths are often killed in severe winters. It is of no value as a 

 timber tree, and but little as an ornamental one ; unless, indeed, for 

 curiosity as a peculiar form of the Silver Fir. 



PiGEA VeITCHI : Yeitch's Silver Fir. 



This is a said-to-be new species from China ; but all of them which I 

 have yet seen as young plants, show nothing distinct from the proto- 

 type when cultivated under the same conditions ; and the specimens of 

 its cones and leaves now extant show nothing but depapurated cones 

 and leaves of the common kind, for as small cones of the Silver Fir are 

 extant produced in Britain; so for the present I refer it to Fectinata, var. 

 Microcarpa, 



Pice A Webbiana : Webb's Indian Silver Fir. 



This, although a quasi-species of Pindrow, is nevertheless a better 

 constitutioned, equally, if not more beautiful, less fastidious in its 

 choice of soil and situation, and in every respect better adapted for 

 the soils and climate of Great Britain and Ireland. 



§3. Vera: The true or Spruce Firs. 



Leaves, generally four-sided, irregularly disposed, and scattered all 



