208 
THE LADIES’ FLORAL CABINET. 
spruces ; but to have it in good condition we should grow 
it in cool, moist ground. 
The Great Silver Fir ( A grandis). —Found in Cal¬ 
ifornia to British Columbia, near the coast; is the largest 
of our native firs, and in cultivation one of the handsom¬ 
est It likes moist ground. 
The Noble Fir ( A. nobilis). —From the Cascade 
Mountains; is a beautiful bluish tree, slow growing at 
first. We have s.everal plants of it and some fine glaucous 
forms, but they do not assume the beautiful and vigorous 
proportions of some of the other species. 
Nordman’s Fir ( A. Nordmanniana). —Native of the 
■Crimean Mountains; is one of the handsomest and most 
prized of all firs. It- is hardy, a ready grower and densely 
furnished with branches ; its leaves are deep glossy green 
above and silvery beneath. We have specimens of it 
broader than they are high. 
Algerian Fir (A. NumidWa). —Is from the high 
mountains of Algiers, a pretty deep-green species, and 
notwithstanding its African home is hardy here. 
European Silver Fir (A. peciinaia).—A native 
of the Alps and other mountain ranges of Northern and 
Central Europe. In a cool, moist, sheltered situation it 
grows and thrives very well, but under unfavorable con¬ 
ditions is scraggy and unseemly. 
Siberian Silver Fir (A . Pichta). —From the moun¬ 
tains of Siberia. This is a beautiful small tree, deep 
green, hardy and accommodating. 
Pinsapo Fir {A. Pinsapo). — A strikingly distinct fir 
from the mountains of Spain. We have two specimens 
of it that are compact and perfect, and show no signs of 
injury from the effects of summer or winter; they are 
growing on the northeast side of a wood, shaded from 
the southwest sunshine and pretty well sheltered. I 
mention this because it is of uncertain hardiness here, and 
the unscathed condition of our trees is a surprise to 
many. 
Veitch’s Fir (A. Veitchii). — An alpine fir from 
Mount Fusi-Yama, Japan, and introduced to European 
and American gardens some five or six years ago. It is 
a pretty fir and quite hardy here. There is a little con¬ 
fusion about this species. Lately I have seen three dis¬ 
tinct firs under this name and all claim to have been sent 
out by Veitch as Abies Veitchii. Abies brachyphylla 
is a lovely but badly-named species from Japan, and 
which a few years ago was distributed as A. Veitchii. 
Anyhow, it is one of the prettiest of silvery-backed firs, 
hardy and vigorous. 
Most fir trees, under natural and uncared-for conditions 
and at maturity, are rather unbecoming in appearance, 
but, properly attended and suited in their conditions of 
growth, the poorest of them can be made into handsome 
desirable evergreens. In their native wilds some of them 
become stately trees, but under garden cultivation these 
same would-be big trees can be kept under twenty-five 
feet high for thirty or forty years, with benefit to them¬ 
selves and a vast improvement in their appearance. Let 
us put into close, wide-spreading branches what if left 
alone would run into stature, and this we can do by al¬ 
lowing the leader about six or eight inches growth a year, 
and disbudding the outmost tips of the branches in May 
as soon as possible. Firs need protection from fierce and 
cold winds, and no matter, be they alpine or lowland, 
without shelter you must expect misery. Firs like mod¬ 
erately good, moist soil, and one that is well drained. A 
soft, mellow ground-surface is of benefit to the young 
firs, and this we can afford by having the earth about 
them cultivated and mulched. Bear in mind that you 
cannot take a scraggy plant of a fir tree, no matter how 
young it may be, and make a handsome specimen out of 
it. If you desire success begin with a healthy, vigorous 
plant, no matter how young it is. For a small garden I 
would recommend Nordman’s or the Cilician and Siberian 
firs, because they are pretty and likely to grow well, and 
by timely attention you can keep them as small as you 
wish. William Falconer. 
WATER-LILIES AND THEIR CULTURE. 
O NE of the most attractive features of a landscape is 
a water surface. Landscape gardeners go to much 
expense when laying out grounds to get some water into a 
conspicuous part of them. Why should not farmers, who 
have freely given to them by nature every opportunity of 
embellishing their homes, enjoy at the cost of a little labor 
the advantages and pleasures which their richer neigh¬ 
bors enjoy at a large cost, and on account of which some 
people, who could themselves possess the same, envy 
them. And as land is far more pleasing and enjoyable 
when covered with flowers, so the surface of the water is 
improved and beautified by being covered with fragrant 
and beautiful water-lilies, which may be grown so easily. 
The commonest water-lily is our native American 
species, Nymphcea odorata. Its lovely white, wax-like 
flowers and sweet odor always make it attractive, and 
it is worthy a place in every garden, which, however 
poor, may have its half-barrel sunk in the soil of a grass- 
plot, or a stone-cemented pit in which a few roots may 
be planted. It does best in a pond or in the almost-still 
bend of a slow-running stream, in the mud of which a 
few roots may be pushed down to a depth of six inches. 
Where the mud is rich these flowers grow six inches 
across and the leaves thirteen inches. The florists sell 
these roots for 40 cents each or 83 a dozen. A variety of 
this lily producing flowers only 1or 2 inches in dia¬ 
meter can also be procured. A pink water-lily is found 
at Cape Cod, but it is rare excepting where it is culti¬ 
vated. It is of a deep pink or rose color, has flowers 
larger than the white variety, and possesses a most de¬ 
licious fragrance. The flowers often sell for 25 cents 
each, and for double as much at the popular watering- 
places and in the cities. The roots are scarce and cost 
$5 each. Another pure white lily is Nymphcea tuberosa. 
