426 JOtJRNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTldULTUEAL SOCIlETlf. 



bark, and mostly solitary, or free from laterals ; the leaves are short, 

 irregularly four-sided, somewhat two-rowed, from being reverted or 

 bent backwards, and mostly blunt- pointed. 



It nearly approaches Ahies excelsa monstrosa, but is much less 

 b ranching, and with the bark generally of a much redder colour. 



P. e. finedonensis, Paul. P. jfinedonensis, hort. 



A striking variety of the common Spruce, with all the younger 

 leaves on the upper side of the shoots at first of a pale yellow, or straw 

 colour, as well as the young wood ; but afterwards, as they get older, 

 they change to a bronzy brown, and finally, when fully matured, become 

 light green, while those leaves on the under side of the shoots and fully 

 shaded branchlets are more or less green from the first. 



This variety originated at Finedon Hall, in Northamptonshire, 

 where it came up accidentally in a bed of seedling common Spruces. 



P. e. Gregoryana, Paul. Ahies Gregory ana, Low. 



A very dwarf variety, seldom growing more than 1 or 2 feet high, 

 but with numerous small spreading and somewhat declining branchlets, 

 thickly covered with short, stiff, needle-shaped leaves, placed obliquely 

 all round the shoots, and of the same colour in all parts. 



It was raised at the Cirencester Nursery, in Gloucestershire. 



P. e. inverta, Smith. Abies inverta, Smith. 



A pendulous variety of the common Spruce, in which the leading 

 shoot straightens itself in the old wood, after the manner of the Deodar 

 Cedar, but not so quickly ; the lateral branches on old plants are as 

 drooping as the Weeping Willow, and the leaves are longer, larger, 

 and of a brighter green than those of the common Spruce, of which it 

 is only an accidental variety, obtained by Mr. Richard Smith, of the 

 St. John's Nursery, Worcester. 



This kind appears, according to the drawing of the original tree, 

 distributed by Mr. Smith, to be superior in its more drooping habit to 

 all the other forms of the Pendulous Spruce, of which there are several 

 variations. 



P. e. monstrosa, Loud. Ahies excelsa Cranstonii, hort. A. excelsa 

 horizontalis, hort. 



A very singular variety, with the branches and branchlets thickened 

 and mostly without laterals, and straggling in all directions. 



P. e, mucronata, Loud. Ahies mucronata, Ranch. 



A dwarf -growing variety, with short, thick, dark green, sharp- 

 pointed leaves, and distorted, irregular branches, rather crowded. It 

 is of French origin, and very distinct. F. excelsa mucronata, Carr., is 

 perhaps another plant. 



P. e. nigra, Loud. Ahies Lemoniana, Booth. A. gigantea, Smith. 

 A. excelsa, gigantea, hort. 



This only difi'ers from the common Spruce in having the leaves of 

 an intense dark green, and stouter, and in the conea being very much 

 longer and broader. 



