274 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 29. 
of the North of Europe. Average height, eighty to one 
hundred feet. This is the common spruce fir of our 
woods and plantations, and whoever lias travelled 
through Derbyshire, near Chats worth, must have been 
struck with the density of the plantations of this fine 
ornamental tree. For such situations, by the sides of 
mountains, no tree is more useful, both for shelter, 
shade, and as an object of ornament. We lately visited 
that region. The spruce firs were then making their 
summer growth, and nothing could be more pleasant to 
tho eye than the delightful freshness of their newly- 
made shoots and leaves. We remember, many years 
ago, botauising at the top of Airdale about the same 
season of the year. The hills are there near some gen¬ 
tlemen’s seats, clothed with this fine tree to a consider¬ 
able extent, and were beautiful in the highest degree. 
No doubt many of our readers will remember similar 
scenes in various parts of Great Britain and Ireland. 
The habit of this useful tree is, as is well known, of a 
pyramidal form; and when a single tree stands alone it 
forms a truly noble object. Its trunk is then clothed 
down to the ground with its elegant branches, and 
it forms an upright symmetrical towering pyramid. 
With the single exception of the oak, there is no tree 
grown so extensively in Europe as this, and none more 
useful. With the above exception, its timber is the 
most valuable, whether used as beams and boards for 
building, and various other purposes, or for producing 
resin and turpentine, or as fuel. It is a great national 
treasure upon tho otherwise barren mountains of the 
North of Europe; in truth, the uses to which it is 
applied might fill a volume. It is so hardy that it will 
thrive upon our highest mountains, and, therefore, ought 
to be planted in such situations most extensively in con¬ 
junction with the larch. For mere ornamental purposes 
it is, perhaps, too common; but in peculiar situations, 
such as by a walk in romantic dells in hilly regions, 
where few others would thrive, this fir woidd fill up such 
a situation with tho best effect; and also planted in 
groups of three or five in a park, in more gentle scenes, 
they would add greatly to the scenic effect; also as a 
nurse for more tender Conifers this would bo invaluable. 
There are several varieties of this fir, the most import¬ 
ant of which is the A. excelsa nigra (Black-leaved Spruce 
Fir, or Red Fir of Norway).—Native of the north of 
Europe and America. Average height, seventy to eighty 
feet. Excepting in the dark colour of the leaves, and their 
being somewhat shorter, there is not much difference 
between them. It seems our botanists do not consider 
these differences of sufficient importance to constitute 
this a distinct species; yet they both come from true 
seed! In all other respects they arc equal, both as 
timber, and in usefulness to man. The wood of this 
variety has a reddish cast, hence it is called red deal, 
and the Canadians prefer it for making the famous, 
useful, and medicinal liquor called spruce beer. A. 
excelsa carputica. —From the Carpathian Mountains; a 
tree of considerable dimensions and beauty. A. excelsa 
pendula (Weeping Spruce Fir).—An elegant tree for 
ornament; there is a variety with variegated leaves. 
A. excelsa gigantea (Giant Spruce Fir). — An acci¬ 
dental variety of rather stronger growth. A. excelsa 
tenuifolia (Slender - leaved Spruce Fir). — A garden 
variety, but very handsome. A. excelsa monstrosa 
(Monstrous Spruce Fir).—A variety with branches that 
form cockscomb shapes; curious enough. A. excelsa 
Olanbrasiliana (Lord Clanbrasil’s Spruce Fir).—A very 
dwarf, dense bush. We have seen one twenty years old, 
and in a favourable soil, that was only five feet high, 
but nearly as much through; suitable for a small place, 
or near the walk of the pinetum. A. excelsa pygmea 
(Dwarf Spruce Fir). — This is still less in its growth 
than the preceding one. There is an example in the 
gardens at Kew, not a foot-and-half high, that is near 
forty years old. If it could be raised freely from cut- ( 
tings it would make a characteristic edging to tho walks | 
of a pinetum. There are other two pygmy firs named 
elegans and concinna. The whole would be useful as ! 
rock plants in a woodland scene. 
A. Jezoensis (Jczo Spruce Fir). — Average height, 
fifty to sixty feet. Native of the Japanese Mountains. : 
This fine species has been lately introduced, but it j 
appears likely to be quite hardy in this country. Tho 
leaves are of two ranks, and are said to be very per¬ 
sistent, that is, evergreen for seven years before they 
drop off. The cones are six or seven inches long, and 
have at the base of the scales a short bract, differing in 
that respect from all others of this genus. Its uses, 
unfortunately, we know little of as yet; but hope to see 
it grown extensively till they are found out. It is as 
yet very scarce. 
A. Khutrow (Khutrow Spruce Fir; syns. A. Smith- 
iana, Pinas Morinda, A. Morinda). —Native of Nepaul. 
Average height, sixty to eighty feet. A very beau¬ 
tiful species. We alluded to it as an instance of a 
Conifer bearing, in a degree, the smoke of London, and 
described two specimens in the Regent’s Park; that 
description must have satisfied our readers that it is 
a beautiful tree. It is, when of a moderate size, of a 
drooping habit, though it varies slightly in that re¬ 
spect, some individuals drooping more than others; by 
drooping, we do not mean weeping like the weeping 
ash or elm, but more like the weeping willow, which, 
though the branches droop or hang down, yet the 
central shoot gradually acquires an upright position. 
The Deodar cedar is an example of a drooping character. 
We are not aware of any especial use that this species 
possesses more than those common to tho whole tribe. 
The timber appears to be soft and light, and, therefore, 
will make any article not requiring much strength, and 
for fuel, like all resinous-bearing trees, it is excellent. As 
an ornamental object there are not many that surpass 
it, therefore it ought to be in every pinetum, or even in 
any pleasure-ground where there is space for it. To 
preserve the beauty of its drooping character, it should 
stand clear of the drip or shade of any other tree. 
A. Menziesii (Mr. Menzie’s, or the Warted-branehed 
Spruce Fir). — Native of North California. Average 
height, sixty to seventy feet. This handsome species 
forms a pyramidal-shaped tree, with tiers of branches 
regularly encircling the stem. The branches are co¬ 
vered with warts, or tubercles; leaves, very numerous, 
with tho under side distinctly marked with silver lines. 
Uses unknown, excepting as an ornamental tree; the 
singularity in its warted branches, and its silver-marked 
leaves, rcndel it a desirable tree to every collection. It 
is very hardy, growing with great vigour even on the 
moors of Scotland. 
A. nigra (American Black Spruce Fir). — Native 
of North America, from Canada to Carolina. Average ' 
height, seventy to eighty feet. Upright pyramidal, with ! 
horizontal branches; leaves solitary, four-sided, thickly 
placed upon tho shoots, persistent. A very common tree 
in its native localities, but not, a favourite among En¬ 
glish planters, on account of a kind of aphides that 
effects and destroys both branches and roots. Our mild 
climate in winter may have something to do with this 
disease. The frost is so severe in North America that i 
no insect can exist through it, whilst here they can live 
and bear our winter with impunity. Its uses are the j 
same as A. alba. As an ornamental tree, when it thrives, 
it is very desirable, from the contrast the colour of the ! 
leaves give to the lighter greon of the other species. 
A. orientalis (Oriental or Eastern Spruce Fir).— 
Native of the mountains of Taurus and Caucasus, i 
Average height unknown. Habit upright, with spread- j 
ing branches. Rare. 
A. rubra (Red Spruce Fir of Newfoundland, or 1 
