464 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



In Norway it may be seen at Cliristiania of about 10 feet in height, 

 and in Sweden it thrives as far north as Stockholm. 



A. c. var. Apollinis. A. Apollinis, Link in Linnsea, xv. 528. 

 Pinus Apollijius, Ant. Conif. 73. P. Abies (S Apollinis, Endl. Syn. 

 Conif. 96. P. Abies, DuE-oi, P. Apollinis, Link, Christ. Europ. Abiet. 

 P. Picea /3 gracea, Fraas f. Class. Abies pectinata jS Apolliiiis, Lindl. 

 and Gord. Journ. Hort. Soc. v. 210 ; Laws. Pinet. Brit. v. cuvi ic. 

 Picea A2:)ollinis, Ranch, Gord. Pinet. Suppl. 44. P. cephalonica 

 Apollinis, hort. Abies cephalonica parnaccica, Henk. and Hochst. 

 Syn. 181. 



Introduced into Central Europe about 1850. 



A tree of this variety planted in Denmark in 1870 now measures 

 31i feet in height and 1 foot 10 inches in girth. 



A handsome tree, rarely exceeding 60 or 70 feet in height and 2 

 or 3 feet in diameter, with an ample spreading head and smooth stem, 

 covered with a pale yellowish brown bark, scarcely ever having on its 

 surface any of those blisters containing resinous matter so commonly 

 to be found on all the Silver Firs, It is found plentifully in many parts 

 of Greece, forming extensive forests, at elevations varying from 1,500 

 to 4,000 feet, but more particularly in the southern parts, such as on 

 the sacred Apollo, and on the celebrated and mighty mounts called 

 Parnassus and Olympus, where in olden times mankind went in crowds 

 to be deluded, and giants piled up in hopes to scale heaven. It is also 

 found in the Morea, near Tripolizza, once the Turkish capital^ in 

 Central Arcadia, particularly on the eastern part of the plain, at the 

 foot of Mount Msenalus, a region which even the ancients charac- 

 terised as the ' ' abode of winter. " It is quite hardy, but, like the Mount 

 Enos Silver Fir, suffers greatly (especially when young) from the late 

 spring frosts, which so frequently destroy the young growth on many 

 of our Silver Firs. 



Much difference of opinion still exists among writers with respect 

 to whether the Apollo Fir should be considered a distinct species, or 

 only as a variety of the common Silver Fir, or Mount Enos Silver Fir. 

 Professor Endlicher considered it as only a variety of Picea pectinata, 

 while Professor Link made it a distinct species, in which opinion he 

 has been followed by M. Carriere and some others, while I myself at first 

 referred it to Picea cephalonica, to which it certainly is very nearly 

 related, and frequently confounded with ; but, after a careful examina- 

 tion of ample and excellent original specimens presented to me by 

 Professor Link, I have come to the conclusion that he is right in con- 

 sidering it a distinct species, especially as it is always reproduced true 

 from seed and retains its great diversity of foliage, the larger portion 

 of which is generally more or less linear, dense, and blunt-pointed, 

 while the remainder is more or less dagger-shaped, very acute pointed, 

 thickly placed all round the shoots, and like those of Picea cephalonica. 



A. c. var. Reginse Amalise. A. Peginse Ameliee, Heldr. 



