ABIES EXCELSA. 
!7 
In this country it seems free from any special diseases; but in Sweden and Norway Le Breton 
mentions that patches of dead trees frequently occur. For example, “near Lessox, saw nothing deserv¬ 
ing of notice except two lakes and a great number of dead trees. No plausible explanation of the latter 
circumstance seems to have been given, although it is one of common occurrence both in Norway and 
Sweden, where we find at certain spots 50 or 100 trees, many of large size, all apparently blasted at the 
same time.” (‘ Scandinavian Sketches,’ p. 279.) 
The Spruce, as every one knows, is thoroughly suited to the climate of the greater part of Britain. 
It is perfectly hardy, and in the winters of 1860-61 and 1866-67 we have heard of no instance in which 
any plant was seriously injured by the frost. In late spring frosts we have seen the side branches all 
along one side of a road or plantation browned as if by lightning, but the trees have soon recovered. 
In Mr Palmer’s tables, the only death which we find recorded is one instance where a plant of the variety 
Clanbraszhana gave way in 1860-61 ; but it was due to exceptional circumstances. 
There are many magnificent specimens scattered over England and Scotland. Some trees at 
Studley, in Yorkshire, are amongst the largest (if not the largest) and most interesting trees in Britain. 
These are said to have been planted by Eugene Aram, who was steward of the Studley estate, about the 
middle of the last century. Mr Loudon gives the details regarding one of these trees, which in 1837 was 
132 feet high (it is now 136), with a trunk 6 ft. 5 in. in diameter, regularly clothed with branches from 
the base to the summit. 
“ This Spruce,” says he, “stands in the pleasure-grounds near one of the cascades. We remarked its great height and fine appearance when 
we visited Studley in 1806 ; and Mr Jukes informs us that it is still in a state of vigorous growth, and adding to its height yearly. The lower 
branches form an ample canopy, beneath which a person may stand, and look up close to the bole of the tree to its very summit; the insertions 
of the branches being naked, the trunk perfectly straight, and the remainder of the branches being densely clothed with leaves, and forming a 
thick casing which excludes the light, and adds on the vision of a speculator below like the tube of a telescope.” 
The largest specimens mentioned by Loudon are:— 
At Syon, Middlesex 
Age. 
Years. 
Height 
ft 
IOO 
Diameter of Trunk. 
ft. in. 
At Kilkerran, Ayr 
Age. 
Years. 
55 
Height. 
ft. 
95 
Diameter of Trunk. 
ft in. 
3 6 
,, Whitton 
... 
90 
• 
• • 
,, Dupplin Castle, Perth 
... 
107 
n 
0 
0 
,, Kingsweston, Somerset . 
... 
95 
n 
O 
0 
,, Taymouth, Perth 
... 
IOO 
4 
0 
,, Cowdrey, Sussex 
... 
80 
3 
9 
,, Blair Drummond, Perth . 
120 
93 
2 
6 
,, Longleat, Wilts 
80 
99 
4 
0 
,, Sauchie, Stirling 
... 
96 
2 
6 
„ Haffield, Hereford . 
105 
7 1 
2 
6 
,, Mackree Castle, Sligo 
... 
96 
2 
8 
,, Merton Hall, Norfolk 
... 
00 
3 
6 
,, Baron’s Court, Tyrone . 
60 
IOO 
2 
6 
„ Trentham, Stafford 
... 
90 
n 
4 
,, Worlitz, Saxony 
60 
80 
4 
0 
,, Finborough Hall, Suffolk 
60 
IOO 
n 
0 
0 
„ Sans Souci, Berlin 
40 
60 
0 
0 
To which we may add some very fine examples at Blair Adam, in Kinross-shire. M. Jaeger 
( Gartenflora , 1858, p. 367) mentions some remarkable trees of this species in the park at Wilhelmsthal— 
one with seven trunks, each bearing a large top, and each of size sufficient to supply planks of con¬ 
siderable dimensions; another 16 feet in circumference at 3 feet from the ground, and another 99 feet in 
height divided at 21 feet into two stems, each nearly 3 feet in diameter. 
Of the varieties nigra and Carpathica , fine young examples are growing at Castle Kennedy, in 
Wigtownshire. A remarkable specimen of the variety Clanbrasiliana , believed to be 40 years of age, and 
only 35 feet in height, may be seen at Grange Park, in Hampshire. It is very quaint, its diameter being 
5 feet 8 inches. Loudon mentions another of the same height which, when he wrote in 1837, was 30 
years old, at Cashiobury, near Watford. 
Commercial Statistics .—Loudon says that in 1837 the price of seeds at London was 3s. per lb., 
and of plants, one year’s seedlings, is. 6d. per 1000; three years’ seedlings, 8s. per 1000; and trans- 
[ 24 ] 1 planted 
