556 EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS. 
character of the branches, and the fact that the latter are “not 
glossy like those of the tru & grandis when young.”—(Gordon.) 
The Lovely Silver Fir. Picea amabilis .—This is also one of 
the trees of California and Oregon, growing there occasionally to 
the height of two hundred and fifty feet. It has longer leaves than 
any other tree of the family (except Parsons’ silver fir, which most 
resembles it), being from one and a half to two inches in length, 
arranged in rows on the sides of the twigs, and of a bluish-green 
tone. Young twigs a light brown ; older bark greenish-gray. The 
smaller twigs are less regular in their horizontal direction than 
those of the P. grandis and P. Parsonii, and the foliage is therefore 
not quite so thin and regular in stratification. One of the most 
beautiful of the silver firs. Its hardiness is not determined. 
The Siberian Silver Fir. Picea pichta .—This is one of the 
most valuable of the European firs recently introduced, on account 
of its medium size and dense foliage. The latter is of the balsam 
fir type, but the leaves are nearly double the size. They are soft 
to the touch; the young wood is short and thick, but bends yield¬ 
ingly in the hand, resembling in this respect the beautiful P. nord- 
maniana , from which it differs in having darker foliage, denser and 
shorter growth, and still greater pliability of young wood, which is 
of a grayish hue. The shade of color is peculiarly deep and rich 
in young trees. Whether it may not become a sombre tree with 
age is a question. It is advisable to plant it where its deep green 
color will be contrasted with trees or shrubs of a light warm tone. 
A native of the mountains of Siberia. It will probably make a tree 
of about the height of our balsam fir, but broader, better filled in 
with foliage, and less sharply conical. Our opinion of this tree has 
been formed principally from one specimen, which is now about 
twelve feet high. 
The Japan Silver Fir. Picea firma .—A species recently 
introduced, which has a strong resemblance to the common silver 
fir at a little distance, but is distinguished on a closer approach by 
its shorter and stiffer leaves, thickly set on the sides of the twigs, 
