CONIFEIUE. THE ABIES, OR SPRUCE FIR. 
263 
in England. There is little doubt of its prov- 
ing quite hardy in this country. 
Abies obovata, Don (obovate-leaved Spruce 
Fir). — Found in the Altaic Mountains, and in 
all probability a variety, or variation only, of 
Abies Smithiana. Cones drooping, cylindrical, 
with abruptly dilated scales. The tree is not 
yet to be had in England, but it is sufficiently 
hardy for this climate. 
Abies Mertensiana, Bougard (Mertens' 
Spruce Fir). — A tree mentioned by Bougard, 
in his work on the island of Sitcha, on the 
western coast of North America, but unac- 
companied by any description. 
Three other species or varieties will be found 
in Knight's Exotic Nursery, under the names 
of elegans, laxa, viminalis; and also a fourth 
species, said to be from New Holland. Mr. 
Knight himself expresses a doubt with refer- 
ence to all these ; and until they are better 
known, no certain opinion can be given con- 
cerning them. 
The four following kinds have to be added 
from books and manuscripts, being, as Lindley 
says, " almost unknown." 
Abies JCcempferi. — A native of Japan, 
found wild upon the mountains of Fako ; called 
by the natives Leosi. 
Abies Thunbergii. — A native of Japan, and 
cultivated in the city of Jeddo. 
Abies Morni. — A native of Japan, the 
wood of which is in great estimation on ac- 
count of its whiteness and fine grain. 
Abies Torano. — A native of Japan. 
Abies AraragL — Also a native of Japan, 
producing brown wood, used for various 
domestic purposes. 
The foregoing is one of the most important 
sections of Coniferse. From the regularity of 
growth assumed by most of the species it will 
at once appear that, viewed merely as orna- 
ments, pruning them is a most dangerous 
experiment ; and when it is considered that a 
few cuts will cause them to part with a great 
deal of their resinous- sap, the practice should 
by all means be discontinued. 
There are no trees perhaps which will better 
repay the exercise of a little judgment in 
selecting spots of soil most suitable for them. 
This fact is abundantly clear from the differ- 
ence of growth and appearance exhibited by 
the common spruce, which may be made either 
to exhibit the most unsightly appearance, or 
the most beautiful and luxuriant garb which 
vegetation puts on. A damp, free, loamy soil 
appears to be most suitable for all the 
individuals of the Abies family; and as recom- 
mended in other instances, the trenching of the 
soil is a great point in their favour. 
' It is but lately that attention has been 
directed to the adaptation of trees to certain 
situations. The vast and almost immeasurable 
tracts of waste land lying along the sea-shore 
were, until a few years since, considered as 
shut out from the pale of vegetation ; and 
hence we find such districts bare, treeless, and 
uninviting. The black spruce (Abies nigra) 
has been found to brave the effects of the sea 
air admirably ; and for such places it may 
be confidently recommended. It not only 
stands well itself, but from its thick evergreen 
spray, it is well fitted to shelter other less 
hardy kinds, which without such a nurse could 
not be introduced. 
It is the fashion now-a-days to propagate 
great quantities of the rarer kinds of Spruce 
Firs by cuttings; but this practice is censurable. 
The trees never assume the outline and vigour 
of seedlings ; and it is very questionable if 
they ever partake of that rigidity of fibre 
exhibited by the wood of such as have been 
raised in the natural way. If so, how is it 
that they are- so short lived ? 
According to the views of some botanists, 
the genus Abies is made to include, beside the 
Spruce Firs, three other groups known by 
the popular names of Silver Fir, Larch, and 
Cedar. The question is not a very important 
one, since the groups are on both hands held 
to be distinct ; but as they are most commonly 
recognised in this country as distinct genera, 
and are better known under the names they 
thus bear, we have thought it desirable, chiefly 
on this account, to prefer the separate arrange- 
ment. Under this plan, the Silver Firs bear 
the generic name of Picea, the Larches, that 
of Larix, and the Cedars, that of Cedrus ; 
while the genus Abies is limited to that group 
of species commonly known as the Spruce Firs. 
It may be worth while here to add some of 
the common characteristics by which these 
groups may be distinguished. It will be seen 
that they consist chiefly of features of habit 
and appearance, the real differences — those of 
structure— upon which the distinction of 
genera should rest, being very slight, if at all 
existing : — 
Abies consist of species, whose cones are 
more or less conical, and in all cases 'pendant ; 
the leaves are evergreen, and scattered in their 
insertion,, that is, they grow out singly from 
the branches — not in tufts, nor two ranked. 
Picea consists of species which bear erect 
cones, mostly long, and generally cylindrical ; 
the leaves are evergreen, and two ranlied. 
Larix consists of species with small ovate- 
conical erect cones ; the leaves are decidu- 
ous, and grow in little tufts or branches. 
Cedrus consists of species which bear large 
erect cones ; the leaves grow in little tufts, 
but they are evergreen. 
