22 
DUNDEE NURSERY. 
Soil.—Conifers will grow in all soils, except those of a wet nature, and 
even in such there are a few that will thrive. The firs being of a shallow 
rooted nature will make vigorous growth in many localities where the good soil 
may be very thin. Several of the pines and firs will grow well on the bleakest 
side hills, exposed to the most trying gales, and on the coast and prairies they 
are especially valuable to form belts for the protection of animals and vegeta¬ 
ble life. In planting the choice Conifers for ornamental effect, it is well to 
have the soil of good quality, and the same planting directions apply to these 
as to other trees, but no fresh manure should be used directly on the roots, 
and its most advisable use is as a mulch, placed on top of the ground in the 
fall and raked away in early summer, after the spring rains. 
Pruning.—Except for hedges, the best time to prune Conifers is previous 
to their growing season, and careful use of the pruning knife will often revive 
a tree which otherwise may be on the decline. 
Roots.—It is very important that Conifers should have an abundance of 
fine, fibrous roots. Our soil is particularly adapted to their growth, and our 
stock first-class in every respect. 
We exercise the greatest care to have our trees frequently transplanted 
or root pruned, to insure such roots. Use blankets or pails of water when 
planting so as to allow the least possible exposure to the roots of Conifers, and 
see that the trees do not 'wilt. 
PICEA PUNGENS—Blue Spruce—See First Cover Page. 
This is the King of Spruces, clothed in royal robes of silver and sap¬ 
phire, a very Kohinoor among the gems of the Rockies. It is a child of the 
storm king, growing at an altitude of from 8,000 to 10,000 feet above the level 
of the sea. It is generally found even there in deep gorges or on the north of 
the ranges. We would naturally suppose that it could not endure a sudden 
change or thrive in a hot climate. There are some specimens growing in 
Washington; also in North Carolina. The question arises, while the tree 
endures such a diversity of climate, why is it never found on the lower alti¬ 
tudes, or among the foot hills? The answer is, it could not possibly grow 
there. The Douglas, the Ponderosa and Concolor have larger seeds and send 
out a strong plant, and therefore they are found lower down. Pungens seed is 
small, about 110,000 to the pound. In higher altitudes are frequent showers 
and often moss in the woods, and the ground is seldom dry. It is not hot 
enough to kill the plants, and so, on high altitudes, nature has provided for 
their propagation. The cone on the Pungens is about one-half the size of that 
of the Norway. The needles are short and sharp—pungent—hence the name. 
They are polished like glass. 
THE CONCOLOR. 
I take this description from an article in the Boston Congregationalism 
The tree with that bright foliage is the Concolor. Riding with a friend in 
Massachusetts last winter, far off on a hill, we saw a row of evergreens. 
There, said I, is a tree from the Rockies, which proved to be true. As the 
name indicates, it is even colored, the same the year around. But you say: 
What a marvlous beauty this has—ermine and emerald blended. Such a 
sheen! A tree dressed in glory \ What is it? It is a robe of matchless 
beauty the great horticulturist has given these Conifers, making them the most 
attractive of anything on earth. They are held in reserve for these later days, 
when nature and art unite to make home, lawn and landscape so attractive 
to the eye of taste. Note the contrast of this rare color with the deep green 
of the pines. There are one or two of these on the princely estate of Mr. Hun- 
neweil at Wellesly. They are true to their nature—some trees put on wondrus 
