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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



saw no tree deprived of its lower branches, except in thickets where it 

 was impossible for them to grow ; there was not one, with the above 

 exceptions, that I could not step from the ground on to its branches. 

 Not the least remarkable thing is that these branches bear fine foliage 

 down to the ground, and the branchiets often touch the ground. I 

 have found it occupying exclusively the calcareous district abounding 

 with ledges of white, veined, and grey marble." 



Some writers say the plant grows on calcareous soil, while Yasey 

 met with it on moist, cold soil. 



The remarkable length of the bracts sets one wondering what their 

 purpose can be. Can it be that the scales remain attached to the 

 bracts as they fall, and that these insert their long points into the 

 debris of leaves on the surface of the soil, and so serve to " dibble the 

 seed in " ] We do not know. We only say, Can it be ? Douglas 

 compared the cones to the inflorescence of a Banksia. We submitted 

 a cone to the inspection of non-botanical friends, who pronounced 

 it to be a Teasel or a Thistle— comparisons which aptly denote the 

 appearance of the cones {Gardeners' Chronicle^ February 1889, p. 242). 



Too much cannot be said in favour of this little-known tree, for, 

 with its long and thick deep-green foliage, erect habit, and pleasing 

 contour, it is beyond doubt one of the handsomest of the many Coni- 

 fers with which California has enriched our empire. The largest, best- 

 furnished, and most healthy specimen of A. hracteata that I have seen 

 is growing in a soil largely composed of peat, and partially sheltered 

 from the prevailing winds of the district. After becoming established 

 the upward growth of this tree is fairly rapid, the annual addition to 

 the height of the specimen referred to, for five consecutive years, 

 averaging 13 i- inches. Being of recent introduction, few opportunities 

 of testing the quality of the timber have been afforded. Introduced 

 in 1853 (Trans. Roy. Scot. Arb. Soc. xii. pt. 2). 



Seems to be quite hardy in Denmark. 



A. ceplialonica, Link in Linnsea, xv. 529 ; Loud. Arb, Brit, iv. 

 2325, f, 2235-36. Finns cephalonica, Endl. Cat. Hort, Yindob. i. 

 218, and Conif. 98. P. Abies /3 cephalonica, Pari, in DC. Prodr, xvi. 

 2, 422. Picea cephalonica, Loud. Encycl. of Trees, 1039, f. 1940-46. 

 A. panachaica, Heldr. PL Exsicc. A. Luscombeana, Loud. Arb. iv. 

 2325 {cum ic). A. pectinata y cejjhalonica, Cat. Sem, h. Yratis, 1863, 

 Ficea Kukunaria, Wender d. Pfl. Bot. Garten, 11. 



Habitat — Mount Enos (now Monte Negro), in the island of 

 Cephalonia, whence its specific name. Also throughout Greece, on 

 the mountains, from 3,000-5,000 feet elevation, forming dense forests 

 (Pari, in Prodr. xvi. 422). 



Mr. Loudon observes that the merit of introducing Abies 

 cephalonica into England entirely belongs to General Napier, and 

 that it never Avas heard of in any public collection, or in nurseries, 

 till 1824. The plant sent to the Plymouth nursery was, in 1837, 



