THE CONIFERS OP JAPAN, 



25 



be wished ; the handsomest specimens known to me are at 

 Pencarrow in Cornwall, and at High Canons near Barnet, 

 where, in the midst of many fine Conifers, it proclaims its 

 individuality so decidedly as to suggest its more general use as 

 an ornamental tree. 



Abies homolepis or brachyphylla, for it is now clear that the 

 trees to which these names have been applied belong to one and 

 the same species. This is a later introduction than A. firma, 

 and no large specimens yet exist in this country ; but all that have 

 come under observation, and these have been planted in many 

 different soils, attest its suitability to our climate, and as an 

 ornamental tree for the park and pleasure-ground it is un- 

 questionably destined to take a high rank. In Japan it often 

 attains a height of 125 feet. The silvery whiteness of the under- 

 side of its leaves becomes more intense and striking with the 

 age of the tree. 



Abies Veitchiiis an alpine tree ascending to 6,000 feet and 

 upwards, in places forming unmixed belts of considerable extent ; 

 in its lower limit sometimes mixed with A. Tsuga and A. polita. 

 It is the most rapid grower of the Japanese Abies, and forms a 

 slender tree upwards of 100 feet high, with rather short branches 

 more distantly placed than in many other Firs. Plants eight to 

 ten years established in this country are now showing a decided 

 upward tendency. We may, therefore, expect this Abies to form 

 a spirelike tree of light and open aspect. Its foliage is hand- 

 some, and may be compared with that of A. amabilis and 

 A. Nordmanniana, between which it is intermediate in colour, 

 but the leaves are far more silvery beneath than either. 



Abies Mariesii is the smallest of the Japanese Silver Firs, and 

 in some respects the most remarkable of them. Its geographical 

 position is between A. Veitchii and A. sachalinensis, to either of 

 which it bears but a slight resemblance. Its principal station is 

 at Awamori, in Northern Nippon ; it also occurs sparingly on 

 the Nikko hills. Its cone declares it to be a true Abies, but its 

 foliage resembles that of a Tsuga or Hemlock Fir. Being the 

 latest introduction among the Japanese Abies, its ornamental 

 qualities are not yet developed; its hardiness is, however, 

 assured, both from its geographical position and from the 

 experience of last winter (1890-91). 



The Spruce Firs are next in interest. These are now ofte^i 



