86 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Govan, of Cupar, Fife, in 1818, who gave the seed of it to the Earl 

 of Hopetoun, and his gardener, Mr. James Smith — after whom 

 the tree was named A. Smitliiana — raised the first plants of it 

 in Britain, one of which is still growing and thriving well at 

 Hopetoun, in West Lothian. It is the finest tree recorded, 

 being now 76 ft. high and 8 ft. in girth. The next is in England, 

 at Linton Park, 71 ft. high and 8 ft. in girth ; and the third in 

 Ireland, on Fota Island, 62 ft. high, but only 4 ft. 3 in. in girth. 

 Many fine specimens growing in various parts of the country 

 exceed 6 ft. in girth and are about 60 ft. high. It is, like all the 

 Spruces, not well suited for growing on dry, parched soils, but 

 thrives with much vigour and freshness on those of a cool, moist 

 nature, which are not sour from stagnant moisture. 



Abies nohilis is still another of the valuable Conifers sent 

 from North-west America by the indefatigable Douglas to the 

 Eoyal Horticultural Society in 1831, and which has thriven 

 remarkably well, in places that suit it, throughout the length and 

 breadth of the United Kingdom. The strong, gross, brittle leader 

 which it sends up when growing in good soil is apt to get broken 

 by the wind in exposed places, and in damp or low-lying spots 

 it occasionally suffers from frost-bite in spring, but on well-chosen 

 ground and moderately sheltered sites it grows rapidly and 

 forms timber quickly, which is straight, but rather coarse and soft 

 even for a Fir. The tallest tree recorded grows at Birr, King's 

 County, Ireland, which is 83 ft. high and 6 ft. in girth. The 

 next is in Scotland, at Keir, Perthshire, 82 ft. high and 5 ft. 

 8 in. in girth ; but the finest tree of it in Scotland is pro- 

 bably the splendid specimen at Coul, Eoss-shire, which is 77 ft. 

 6 in. high, 7 ft. 10 in. in girth, and beautifully furnished 

 from base to apex with branches clothed with the rich silvery 

 foliage which renders the glaucous variety of A, nohilis one 

 of the best of ornamental coniferous trees. The best recorded 

 in England is at Linton Park, and is 72 ft. high and 6 ft. 

 4 in. in girth. Taking it all round, it is likely to prove only 

 a second-rate forest tree, but quite first-rate as a decorative 

 Conifer. 



Abies Nordmanniana (Nordmann's Fir) is said to have been 

 introduced into Britain from Eastern Europe so recently as 1848, 

 and until the past few years it was popular with planters, but its 

 apparent hability to insect attack has caused it to be looked upon 



