It appears to be of slow growth, not arriving at its full dimensions in less than 200 years. When from 25 to 30 feet high its form is exceed ingly elegant, but when old its huge limbs are apt to be rent and broken by winds and snow; and their- naked stumps, sticking out beyond the young and verdant foliage, give the trees an air of decre pitude and decay. The wood is of little value, being neither sound nor durable. The bark is valuable for tanning ; mixed with oak-bark, it is said to be much better than oak-bark alone.
Atka Brunoniana, the Deciduous Silver Fir (Pines Brunoniana, Wallich ; P. Leaves flat, all turned one way, serrulate towards the points, covered beneath with a milk-white bloom. ' Cones terminal, erect, ovate, blunt, very small, with lax, ovate, very blunt scales.—Found in the northern parts of India in the provinces of Nepaul, Bootan, and Gossain Than. It is a tree 70 or 80 feet high, with a clear trunk of from 15 to 20 feet, and a spreading very branchy bead. The wood is of bad quality, being liable to warp.
Abies religiose, the Sacred Mexican Fir (Pines religiose, Humboldt and Kunth). Young branches quite smooth. Leaves arranged in two rows, sharp pointed, covered beneath with a glaucous bloom.
Found by Humboldt, on the lower hills of Mexico, at au elevation of 4000 feet: Deppe and Schiede found it upon the cold moun tains of Orizaba, at the highest limit of arborescent vegetation. It
is described as a lofty tree, resembling Aides picea and Aides balsamea, from which it is distinguished by its sharp-pointed leaves. The flowers are unknown. The branches are used for adorning the churches in Mexico. According to Mr. Lambert, the cones are like those of the cedar of Lebanon, but smaller, and almost black.
Abies hirtella, the Hairy Fir (Pines hirtella, Humboldt and Knuth). Young branches covered with hairs. Leaves arranged in two rows, flat, acute, covered with glaucous bloom beneath. Known only from the incomplete account of Humboldt, who found it on the mountains of Mexico, growing at an elevation of between 8000 and 9000 feet. He describes it as a small tree, three or four times as high as a man.
Aides Smithiana, the Indian Silver Fir (Pious Selithiana, Wallich). Leaves slender, four-cornered, whitish beneath, a little turned towards ono side, dark green, from one inch to one and a half long. Cones from four to six inches in length, erect, ovate-oblong, with obovate, rounded, even scales. A native of the slopes of the HimalayaMountains. It is a tree of enormous size, with nearly opposite branches, covered with short down, and so arranged as to form generally two rows.