66 
lection only the species of the northern, central and eastern parts of 
the continent, for the interesting species of the south and southeast 
are not hardy in the Eastern States, although they flourish on the 
Pacific Coast. Of the species of the Himalayas only a White Pine, 
Pinus excelsa, can be induced to grow here. The Pines of the Chinese 
Empire, with the exception of the tropical or semitropical Pinus Mas- 
soniana, are established in the Arboretum. They are Pinus sinensis , 
with three distinct geographical varieties, which when better known 
may prove distinct species, P. Armandi and P. Bungeana. All the 
Pines of Siberia, Manchuria, Korea, and of Japan proper, can be seen 
growing and in fairly good condition in the Arboretum. 
Larix, although widely distributed through the northern and elevated 
parts of the Northern Hemisphere, contains only a few species. They 
are all growing in the Arboretum with the exception of the Himalayan 
Larix Griffithii which is not hardy, and the alpine species of western 
North America and western China, Larix Lyallii and L. Potaninii, 
which although hardy have not been able to adapt themselves to sea- 
level conditions. Hybrid Larches are known and are growing in the 
Arboretum. 
Picea, which grows in most northern regions, does not range south¬ 
ward, although it occurs on the southern slopes of the Himalayas and 
on the high mountains which form the border between western China 
and Thibet. Although many of the Spruces lose their beauty early in 
this climate they can all be grown in eastern Massachusetts with the 
exception of the two Himalayan species, the Formosa Picea morrison- 
icola and the two species of Pacific North America, Picea sitchensis 
and P. Breweriana. The three European Spruces are in the collection 
one of these the so-called Norway Spruce {Picea Abies) has been more 
generally planted in the northeastern states than any other Spruce. 
It is hardy and grows rapidly for forty or fifty years, and then usu¬ 
ally begins to fail in the top and soon becomes unsightly. The general 
planting of this tree in New England during the last sixty or seventy 
years must be considered a misfortune. The handsome Balkan Spruce 
{Picea omorika) which has now been growing in the Arboretum for 
thirty-eight years, is still in good condition and gives every promise 
of being a valuable tree in this climate. Unfortunately, however, it 
is attacked by the borer which does so much injury to the native 
White Pine. The Spruce of the Caucasus {Picea orientalis), which re¬ 
sembles in general appearance the native Red Spruce, has been grow¬ 
ing in Massachusetts for more than fifty years; like the Balkan Spruce 
it too often loses its leader by the attacks of borers. The oldest spec¬ 
imen of the Siberian Spruce {Picea obovata) in the Arboretum collection 
was raised here from seed forty-three years ago. It has grown slowly 
but is in good health and retains all its branches. No less than seven¬ 
teen Spruces discovered in China and Manchuria during the last twenty 
years are established in the Arboretum, and among them only Picea 
Sargentiana has not proved to be perfectly hardy in this climate. 
Most of these Spruces are large, handsome and valuable trees in their 
native forests and there seems to be no reason why some of them at 
least should not succeed here permanently. At least fifty years more, 
