G0NIFERJ5. THE PICEA, OR SILVER FIR. 
green. What would Xerxes have said of such 
majestic objects ? However, we need no 
princes or sages of antiquity to awaken in us 
a due estimate of the overpowering grandeur 
of these works of the Almighty. There is a 
specimen in the garden of the Horticultural 
Society ; and though somewhat scarce in the 
nurseries, it is to be had at Loddiges' and 
Knight's at 5s. each (1346). 
Picea a a: ah <l/$, Loudon (lovely Silver Fir). 
— Leaves entire, flat, somewhat rounded at the 
apex, one and a quarter inch in length. Cones 
of a very regular shape, cylindrical, with short 
pointed bracteoles. Scales of a triangular shape, 
the upper side rounded, \\ inch broad, and 
the same in length. 
A beautiful and majestic tree, nearly allied 
to P. grandis, introduced by Uoiiglas in 1831. 
A good many plants were raised in the Chis- 
wick Garden and distributed to the members, 
so that the plant is found in many pinetums 
throughout the country. There are fine trees 
at Dropmore, Elvaston Castle, and in the 
Chiswick arboretum. Plants are 21s. each 
(1846). 
Picea ?iooilis, Loudon (noble Silver Fir). 
— Leaves almost all turned one way, thickly 
set on the branches, short, sharp, with a faint 
silvery colour underneath. Cones erect, cylin- 
drical, seven inches long, with imbricated 
bracteoles. Seed very small, measuring, with 
the wing, one and quarter inch in length. 
A majestic tree, discovered and introduced 
by Douglas, in 1831, forming extensive forests 
upon the mountains of Northern California, 
where it is said to produce timber of excel- 
lent quality. This is the tree which, above 
all others, awakened the admiration of Douglas. 
u I spent," he says, " three weeks in a forest 
composed of this tree, and, day by day, could 
not cease to admire it." Judging from the 
young trees at Belsay, Flitwick, and Hendon, 
it is likely to excite similar admiration in the 
less congenial climate of this country ; and it 
is not improbable that, at some future day, it 
will exhibit the beautiful and useful in a very 
eminent degree. Plants are 25s. each (1846). 
Picea religiosa, Loudon (sacred Mexi- 
can Silver Fir.) — Leaves linear acute, entire, 
somewhat pectinate, or comb-like, 1^ inch 
in length. Cones roundish-oval, nearly 3 inches 
long, and 21 inches broad ; they very much 
resemble those of the Cedar of Lebanon, but 
are smaller. 
A large growing tree, believed to be quite 
hardy in Britain. In a wild state, it grows 
from 100 to 150 feet in height, with a trunk 
5 or 6 feet in diameter. A native of Mexico, 
on the mountains of Anganguco, 8,000 or 
9,000 feet above the sea. It was introduced 
in 1839, by Mr. Hartweg, to the Horticul- 
tural Society of London. Like the Deodar 
among the Hindoos, this tree is greatly reve- 
renced throughout Mexico, where branches 
of it are used in decorating the churches. 
Plants. 18 inches high, are from 30s. to 42s. 
each (1846). 
Picea Webbiaha, Loudon (Webb's Silver 
Fir.) — Leaves linear, flat, two-rowed, crowded, 
smooth, shining, silvery beneath. Cones soli- 
tary, erect, 5 to 6 inches long, oblong, of an 
intense purple colour when ripe, but after 
being detached from the tree for some months, 
resembling in hue those of the Cedar of Le- 
banon, though somewhat darker. 
A fine tree, a native of the Alps of Gos- 
sainthan, and of the Himalayan mountains, 
where it was discovered by Captain W. S. 
Webb, and introduced into this country by 
Dr. Wallich, in 1822. It has a regular, 
majestic outline, which would indicate a loftier 
growth than it attains to even on its native 
hills, where it rises to the height only of 80 
or 90 feet. The branches, like those of the 
silver fir, are disposed in whorls, though less 
regular than in that tree ; the leaves are very 
thickly set, and its whole appearance entitles 
it to be considered as eminently beautiful. 
No decided opinion can be yet given of its 
use in this country as a timber tree : it suffers 
considerably from spring frosts, and, on that 
account often changes its leading shoot. 
Recent experiments, however, justify its being 
recommended in sheltered situations near to 
the sea, where the effect of frost is neutralized. 
In Scotland, too, it has a better chance of 
succeeding than in England ; and, indeed, 
throughout Britain, there is a source of hope 
regarding it, after it has become naturalized. 
Like the silver fir, it produces a great many 
bad seeds, and, on this account, it is scarcely 
worth while to send home the seeds in the 
cones. They should be extracted, and the 
good or plump ones selected and forwarded 
by the Overland route. Those who have 
friends in India, who are in the practice of 
sending cones to England, should be instructed 
to be very careful in getting those only of the 
current year's growth and from the trees ; 
for a great proportion of cones which reach 
Britain are evidently those which have fallen 
off prematurely, or are old ones gathered un- 
der the trees. Of all the countries under 
heaven, India is, perhaps, the slowest, and 
the natives are ever ready with an excuse to 
obviate the trouble of ascending a tree. The 
seeds should be sown in the first week of 
April, in the open air, like those of the com- 
mon pines, and treated in every respect like 
the Scotch rir or larch. One year seedling 
plants are 12s. per dozen ; and those 18 inches 
high, in pots, are from 7s. 6d. to 10s. each 
(1846). 
Picea Phi'lrow, Loudon (Pindrow, or tooth- 
