DUNDEE NURSERY. 
23 
beauty while young, but these retain their attractiveness down to old age, 
and wear their brightness, as a Christian does his joy, to the very last. 
But in order to see these trees in all their glory, you should see them 
while bearing their cones. Here is a grove of them. All are dressed in their 
marvelous attire of silver and green. On one tree the blossoms are of a deep 
ridh purple. What a contrast to the other hues! But this other tree has blos¬ 
soms and cones of the brightest green—another contrast. The cones grow 
erect at the top of the tree. They are perfect in form and about the size of an 
ear of sweet corn. As they mature in their perfect symmetry, these colors 
seem to deepen, and then from the cone that clear gum exudes; the sun 
shines, and it sparkles like crystals. Take this grove, then, with the sun 
shining brightly upon it, with its green and silver, its purple and crystal, and 
it seems almost too beautiful for earth.” From the small plantings of this tree 
m the east one has no conception of its coming symmetry and grace, its 
beauty of mingled tints; and yet at the east I note that these trees do as well 
as in their own habitat, and you will soon have these mountain treasures 
there, that will hold the stranger spellbound by their unique beauty. I have 
tried selecting seeds from the rarest specimens, and find that among the 
thousands now coming up, most of them fairly sparkle with silver. 
DOUGLAS SPRUCE.—Seudotsuga Dougiassi. 
This is emphatically the tree for the million. While on a visit to the east¬ 
ern nurseries, 1 noted in almost every instance that it was the most rapid 
grower of all the conifers. Sometimes the complaint is made that it grows 
too fast, and is riot compact enough for the lawn tree, yet on my grounds they 
seem to have the perfection of form. The foliage is soft and somewhat re¬ 
sembles the hemlock, hence the name (resembling the hemlock.) In the 
mountains it is a grand tree. It reaches from the Rockies to the Pacific slope, 
and our Chief of Forestry, B. E. Fernow, tells us that he never on earth saw 
such a burden of lumber to the acre as that produced by this tree in the west. 
We are of the mind that the seeds gathered from the Conifers on the Pacific 
slope are tender, while those gathered in Colorado produce hardy trees, which 
endure both drought and cold. 
The lumber of this tree is very strong, and is invaluable for timber, posts, 
and scantlings, and makes good lumber for finishing, though like the hemlock, 
it is easily split. In color it is like the Red Wood of the Pacific coast. 
I want to call your attention to one feature of this tree. In the deep 
gorges and on the north side of the mountains, as you reach the high altitudes 
you will find them of the deep blue type—literally sparkling with silver. Seen 
at a distance they are often taken for Pungens. These trees should be sought 
out and cultivated, for in addition to their rich coloring, they have more flex¬ 
ible grace than the rigid Pungens. 
NORWAY SPRUCE.—Abies Excelsa. 
A very popular variety from Europe. It has been more extensively planted 
in this country than has any other evergreen. In fact, it is so well known as 
being one of the best evergreens for ornamental purposes, that it is only nec¬ 
essary to say that it is the most valuable for wind breaks, screens and hedges. 
AMERICAN WHITE SPRUCE.—Picea Alba. 
Pyramidal tree of dense growth, with light, silvery green foliage. A more 
compact tree in all respects than the Norway Spruce. Fine for lawn planting 
or use near the sea shore. One of the best for general use. 
BLACK HILL SPRUCE. 
This is the Picea Alba, or the White Spruce, but with this difference: 
That while the Norway and the Black and White Spruce will not endure the 
winter droughts of the western plains, this tree seems well adapted for all the 
