[Ill.u.s.tration: P. Alcoquina.]

7. =Pcea Alcoquina=, Lindl. (ALc.o.c.k'S SPRUCE.) Leaves to in. long, crowded, somewhat 4-sided, flattish, recurved, obtusely rounded at tip, deep green above, whitish or yellowish below. Cones 2 to 3 in. long, 1 in. in diameter, reddish fawn-color, with very persistent scales; scales wedge-shaped at base, rounded at tip. A large tree from j.a.pan; fully hardy as far north as Ma.s.s.

[Ill.u.s.tration: P. orientalis.]

8. =Pcea orientalis=, L. (EASTERN OR ORIENTAL SPRUCE.) Leaves very short, in. long, 4-sided, rigid, stout, rather obtuse, dark shining green, entirely surrounding the branches. Cones 2 to 3 in. long, cylindrical, with soft, thin, loose, rounded scales, uneven on the edges. A beautiful, conical, slow-growing, compact tree, reaching the height of 75 ft.; often cultivated; from the Black Sea. Hardy.

GENUS =95. TSuGA.= (HEMLOCKS.)

Leaves evergreen, scattered, flat, narrowed to a green petiole, appearing 2-ranked by the direction they take, whitened beneath. Fertile catkins and cones on the end of last year's branchlets. Cones pendulous, maturing the first year; scales thin, persistent.

[Ill.u.s.tration: T. Canadensis.]

1. =Tsuga Canadensis=, Carr. (COMMON HEMLOCK.) Leaves short-petioled, linear, in. long, obtuse, dark green above and white beneath; the young leaves in the spring a very light green. Cones oval, to in.

long, pendent, of few (20 to 40) scales. A large, very beautiful tree, 50 to 80 ft. high, abundant in rocky woods, and cultivated throughout; spray light and delicate.

[Ill.u.s.tration: T. Caroliniana.]

2. =Tsuga Caroliniana=, Engelm. (MOUNTAIN-HEMLOCK.) This is similar to the last; its leaves are larger, glossier, more crowded; its cones are larger, and have wider and more spreading scales; the tree is smaller, rarely growing 40 ft. high. Wild, but scarce, in the higher Alleghanies, south; beginning to be cultivated north, and probably hardy throughout.

[Ill.u.s.tration: T. Siebldii.]

3. =Tsuga Siebldii.= (j.a.pAN HEMLOCK.) Leaves to in. long, linear, obtuse to notched at the tip, smooth, thick, dark green above, with two white lines below. Cones scarcely 1 in. long, elliptical, solitary, terminal, obtuse, quite persistent; scales pale brown. A beautiful small tree, 20 to 30 ft. high, with an erect trunk, dark-brown bark, and numerous, pale, slender branchlets. Introduced from j.a.pan, and probably hardy throughout.

GENUS =96. aBIES.= (THE FIRS.)

Leaves evergreen, flat, scattered, generally whitened beneath, appearing somewhat 2-ranked by the directions they take. Fertile catkins and cones erect on the upper side of the spreading branches. Cones ripening the first year; their scales thin and smooth, and the bracts generally exserted; scales and bracts breaking off at maturity and falling away, leaving the axis on the tree. A great number of species and varieties have been planted in this country, but few if any besides those here given do at all well in our dry and hot climate.

* Cones 6 to 8 in. long; leaves blunt at tip. (=A.=)

=A.= Leaves over an inch long 10, 11.

=A.= Leaves an inch or less long 12.

* Cones 3 to 6 in. long. (=B.=)

=B.= Leaves 2 in. or more long, 2-ranked 9.

=B.= Leaves 1 in. or less long. (=C.=)

=C.= Leaves acute at tip 7, 8.

=C.= Leaves blunt or notched at tip. (=D.=)

=D.= Two-ranked 4.

=D.= Not 2-ranked 3.

* Cones 1 to 3 in. long. (=E.=)

=E.= Leaves an inch or more long 5, 6.

=E.= Leaves less than an inch long 1, 2.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. balsamea.]

1. =abies balsamea=, Mill. (COMMON BALSAM-FIR.) Leaves narrow, linear, to in. long, and much crowded, silvery beneath; those on the horizontal branches spreading into 2 ranks. Bark yielding Canada balsam from blisters. Cones erect, on spreading branches, 2 to 4 in. long and 1 in. thick, cylindric, violet-colored, with mucronate-pointed bracts extending beyond the scales and not reflexed. Wild in cold, wet grounds; 20 to 45 ft. high, with numerous horizontal branches. Has been cultivated quite extensively, although there are better Firs for ornamental purposes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. Fraseri.]

2. =abies Fraseri=, Lindl. (FRASER'S OR SOUTHERN BALSAM-FIR.) Leaves to in. long, somewhat 2-ranked, linear, flattened, obtuse, emarginate, whitish beneath, the lower ones curved and the upper ones erect. Cones oblong, 1 to 2 in. long, with sharp-pointed bracts half exserted and reflexed. A rare, small tree, 30 to 40 ft. high, growing wild in the mountains, from Virginia south. A hardy tree and handsome when young.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. Nordmanniana.]

3. =abies Nordmanniana=, Link. (NORDMANN'S SILVER FIR.) Leaves very numerous, crowded, broad, linear, blunt or erose-dentate at the ends, somewhat curved, of unequal length, 1 in. or less long, deep green above and whitened beneath. Cones large, 5 in. long, ovate, erect, with very obtuse scales; bracts exserted and recurved. A beautiful large tree, 50 to 80 ft. high, occasionally cultivated; with numerous horizontal branches and smooth bark.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. firma.]

4. =abies firma=, S. and Z. (j.a.pAN SILVER FIR.) Leaves to 1 in. long, very closely 2-ranked, slightly twisted, linear, somewhat notched at the end, smooth and dark above, somewhat silvery below. Cones 3 to 4 in.

long, 1 to 1 in. in diameter, straight, cylindric, with broad, downy, leathery, crenulated scales; bracts exserted, with acute, slightly recurved points. A beautiful tall tree with somewhat the habit of the common Silver Fir; recently introduced from j.a.pan, and hardy as far north as central New York.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. grandis.]

5. =abies grandis=, Lindl. (GREAT SILVER FIR.) Leaves 1 to 1 in. long, mostly curved, deep green above and silvery below, not 2-ranked. Cones 3 in. long and about 2 in. broad, obtuse, solitary, chestnut-brown in color. A very large (200 to 300 ft. high), handsome tree from the Pacific coast. Hardy at Washington; needs protection north.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. Pichta.]

6. =abies Pichta=, Fisch. (SIBERIAN SILVER FIR.) Leaves 1 in. long, linear, flat, obtuse, incurved at the apex, mostly scattered, very dark green above, paler beneath. Cones 3 in. long, ovate, cylindric, obtuse, with rounded, entire scales and hidden bracts. A small to medium-sized cultivated tree, 25 to 50 ft. high, with horizontal, somewhat pendulous branches and dense compact growth. It is peculiar in its very dark foliage; very hardy.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. Cephalonica.]

7. =abies Cephalonica=, Loud. (CEPHALONIAN SILVER FIR.) Leaves in.

long, very stiff, sharp-pointed, spreading broadly from the branches in all directions, dark green above and white beneath; petioles very short, dilated lengthwise at the point of attachment of the branches. Cones very erect, 4 to 6 in. long, 1-1/3 in. in diameter; projecting scales unequally toothed and reflexed at the point. A beautiful, cultivated tree, 30 to 60 ft. high, with bright brown bark and resinous buds.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. Pinsapo.]

8. =abies Pinsapo=, Bois. (PINSAPO FIR.) Leaves less than 1 in. long (usually in.), rigid, straight, scattered regularly around the branches, and pointing in all directions; disk-like bases large; branches in whorls, and branchlets very numerous. Cones 4 to 5 in. long, oval, sessile; scales rounded, broad, entire; bracts short. A very handsome tree from Spain, and reported hardy at the Arnold Arboretum.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. concolor.]

9. =abies concolor=, Lindl. (WHITE FIR.) Leaves 2 to 3 in. long, mostly obtuse, but on young trees often long-pointed, 2-ranked, not crowded on the stem, pale green or silvery. Cones oblong-cylindric, 3 to 5 in.

long, 1 in. in diameter; scales twice as broad as long; bracts short, not projecting. A large tree, 75 to 150 ft. high; bark rough, grayish.

Native in the Rocky Mountains; hardy at the Arnold Arboretum, Ma.s.sachusetts, but needs some protection at St. Louis.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A. Cilicica.]