Jakuary l:3. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
285 
small, ratbor long sj)Out, tapering to the end. Such a 
pot will give the operator power over the water so as 
exactly to suit the quantity each plant requires. By no 
means use a nose at this time of the year, but water 
the soil only, not wotting the leaves in the least; and, 
above all things, take care to use water with the chill 
taken olF, not exactly warm water, nor yet ice cold, 
either extreme would be injurious. 
'J’lie next important item in spring culture is to keep 
the plants as nearly as possible at an equal temperature. 
Actual frost would now cripple the blooms, and too 
much heat would draw them up weak, and cause them 
to flower prematurely. To prevent these extremes, 
cover them up securely every niglit. Straw mats, with a 
common garden mat tlirown over them, are the most 
effectual protection 1 have ever met witii; any labourer 
can make these straw mats during long evenings or wet 
(lays. 'I’hey are l.iest made of wheat-straw, and if put by 
when done with in a dry state will last a long time; 
three seasons at least. Too much heat may bo easily 
avoided, by giving air and shading when the sun be¬ 
comes too ))owerful. As the flower-stems advance the 
season will bo advancing also, and then the covering at 
night may be reduced, but this must be carefully done, 
and the weather watched almost hourly, for often in 
April we have frosty nights, and once, by a too great 
security, or, I had almost said, carelessness, if the plants 
are allowed to become fi'ost-nipped, the hloom for tliat 
season will be spoiled. It is better, therefore, to err on 
the safe side, and keep the night covering on a little 
longer, till the blooms are quite safe. The last week 
in April, or the first week in May, they shoidd be in 
perfect bloom, and will rc(puro sbading daily whenever 
the sirn shines. Some florists remove them then into a 
shady place, and place them underhand-glasses standing 
upon a brick at each corner of the hand-light. This 
method certainly prolongs and preserves the bloom, but 
1 do not approve of it generally; because the flowers 
cannot be so easily seen or shown as in a frame or on 
a stage. T. Ai-i’i.ejsy. 
(To he conlinued .) 
CONIFER/E. 
I 
(Continued from yajc 245.) 
PicEA.— The Coniferae classed by Loudon under this 
name are commonly called Silver Eirs, because of the 
silvery-white colour of the underside of the leaves. 
Many of them form stately evergreen trees, and will 
grow in and thrive best in low, moist situations much 
better than the Spruce Errs, which often in such a soil 
become diseased and perish. This peculiarity renders 
the genus Picea valuable as an ornamental tree in such 
districts as the lowlands of Idncolnshire and Cambridge¬ 
shire, where the greater part of Coniferae would look 
starved and miserable, and ultimately die before they 
had reached to anything like timber. 
Picea A.jonensis (Ajona Silver Fir).—Though a native 
of Siberia, very little is known of this tree. It is said 
to grow to a great size. 
Picea aaiabilis (Lovely Silver Fir).—This fine tree, 
from California, is so extremely rare that our knowledge 
of its habits and uses are extremely limited. 
Picea balsamea (Balm of Gilead Fir).—Native of 
Canada. Of all the Silver Firs this is the best known. 
It is highly ornamental, though not a tree of the first 
magnitude, seldom exceeding fifty feet high. It is less 
liable to disease than any other of its tiibe, and grows 
very rapidly, especially in moist ground. From it the 
Canadians extract their famous balsam, which they call 
“ Balm of Gilead,” hence its specific name. There are 
two varieties of this really beautiful and perfectly hardy 
tree, one is named Picea balsamea jtrostrata, and is a 
low bush, of a rather drooping habit, the other has tlie 
leaves slightly variegated, and is the Picea balsamea 
foliis variei/atis of gardens. 
Picea Cepiialoxica (Ccphalonian Silver Fir). — A 
native, as its specific name imports, of Ccphalonia, on 
the Fdack Mountain, and is, therefore, perfectly hardy. 
It is a tree of second magnitude, rising to the height of 
sixty feet, with excellent timber, remarkable for its hard¬ 
ness and durabilitj'. The cones arc erect, long, and 
slender; leaves sharp-]iointed, with vfingial stalks. 
I’iCEA Fraseri (Fraser’s Silver Fir). — There is a con¬ 
siderable resemblance between this and the last named 
species; the difference consisting in tlie leaves being 
more thinly jdaced upon the branches, and not being 
so bristly. It is very handsome ; hut being a native of 
Carolina is not so hardy, neither docs it grow so tall, 
its average height being from 30 to 10 feet. The variety 
Picea Fraseri Iludsonia is a low bush^ and is quite 
hardy, as it is native of the cold regions of Hudson's 
Bay. 
Picea granius (Large Californian Silver Fir). — This 
is one of the nobles of California, growing, as the late 
Mr. Douglas relates, to the height of 200 feet. The 
timber is of excellent quality. The finest specimen, 
jirobably, in England, is growing in the grounds at 
Dropmore. I had the pleasure of seeing it there last 
summer, and it was nearly nine feet high, and growing 
very rapidly. The large handsome foliage rendered it 
very ornamental and conspicuous, even amongst the 
line plants of this tribe so ju-ofusely planted there. 
Picea noiulis (Noble Silver Fir).—Native of the 
same country as the preceding, and something similar 
to it. The only difference is, the leaves are of a silvery 
milky-green hue on both sides, and are a trille shorter; 
by these it may be easily distinguished from its majestic 
congener. There is a line specimen, growing near to 
the one mentioned above, of Picea nobilis in the same 
jdace (Lady Grenville's) and of the same height. The 
botanical difference is, however, chietly in the cones, 
which, in this species, are very large, and covered with 
large reflexed bracts. This species is more common, 
because it strikes readily from cuttings, which soon form 
a leading shoot, and become, after the third or fourth 
year, regular-formed, handsome plants. 
IhcEA Nordmanniana (Mr. Nordman’s Hilver F'ir). — 
A large tree, native of the north of Asia, on a high 
mountain. It is a liandsome species, and believed to 
be perfectly hardy. The cones are short and broad, and 
rellexed at the apex. 
Picea pectinata (Comb-like-leaved Silver Fir). — 
This is our common Silver Fir. It is widely distributed, 
being found in central Europe and the west and north 
of Asia. It is well known, and therefore needs little 
description. There are some extra-fine trees, nearly a 
100 feet high, in the park at Strathfieldsayo, the seat of 
the late “ Iron Duke.” The soil and climate there is 
moist—so much so, that most of the trees, both of the 
plantations and gardens, are hoary with lichens. If 
proof were needed, this wmdd bo sufficient to show 
that Silver Firs love a low, moist situation. 
Picea piciita (Pitch Silver Fir).—A low tree, native 
of the Altai Mountains. 
I’icEA PiNSAPO (Pinsapo Silver Fir).—A very hand¬ 
some, slow-growing, la^gular-formed tree, now pretty 
common. The groat distinction of this beautiful tree 
consists in its leaves being iierfectly round, and placed 
equally on every side of the branches. It is a native of 
Spain, where, when of a great age, it reaches the height 
of seventy feet. No collection, however small, ought to 
be without one or two of this beautiful species. 
Picea Pindrow (Pindrow or Tooth-leaved Silver 
Fir).—Like P. Webbiana, but the leaves are longer, 
an(I not so silvery-white on the under side. 
Picea reeioiosa (Sacred Mexican Silver Fir).—This 
