214 ox THE TAXODIUM SEMPERYIRENS 



the friendly mantle, and also from their having been less ex- 

 posed to the wind than the plants of Taxodiimi scin^nrvirens had 

 been during the storm. In the farther north, as for instance in 

 Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, and Inverness, it has proved itself 

 quite hardy ; but it appears to thrive best on the west coast of 

 Scotland, owing to the greater moisture in the atmosphere, and 

 freedom from easterly winds. 



In regard to soil in Great Britain, the Taxodium will be found 

 succeeding best in good loam of a deep nature, and with a damp 

 and cool subsoil. Indeed, in such soils as the Wellingtonia 

 thrives and delights in, this pine, which is so similar in habit 

 of growth, will be seen to produce most satisfactory results. 

 It is not, however, averse to any particular kind of soil, as there 

 is none, so far as has been ascertained, in which, in this country, 

 it will not live, provided other material requisites, such as expo- 

 sure to the north, so as to avoid the sun's rays in winter and 

 spring, cool substratum, &c., be present. At Gordon Castle, in 

 Morayshire, in the same winter, those plants wliich occupied low 

 lying situations in a light soil were killed, while it survived when 

 placed on a dry, airy site, in light soil, resting on old red sand- 

 stone rock ; but upon the whole, even there, in favourable sites, 

 considering the confirmation of the locality, the Taxodium can- 

 not be said to be a very rapid growing or luxuriant tree. At 

 Dupplin Gastle, in Perthshire, it thrives admirably in a good 

 loam, 2|- feet deep, resting on a sandstone rock bottom of great 

 depth, and in this situation it appears to enjoy the coolness of 

 the substratum, and its roots are clinging firmly to, and running 

 healthily along the rocky subsoil, which suits them well. The 

 best specimen there is now 48 feet in height, and 4 feet 10 

 inches in girth, at 1 foot from the ground. At Durris, Aberdeen- 

 shire, the Taxodium semijervircns thrives admirably. In a good 

 dry soil resting upon granite rock and gravel, it cones freely 

 every year. The best specimens are now about 35 feet in height, 

 and in girth, at 3 feet from the ground, are above 2 feet. They are 

 situated in somewhat sheltered positions, and have his season 

 (1876) made growths of over 2 feet in length. There have been no 

 complaints of the spring winds having injured the foliage in this 

 locality ; probably owing to the shelter afforded by the dense 

 foliage of the surrounding conifers in the magnificent collection 

 which adorns and clothes the landscape in the picturesque 

 grounds of Durris, and where there is probably one of the most 

 extensive and varied assortments of the newer coniferge to be 

 found in the north of Scotland. At Fordell, near luverkeithing, 

 and in a lower altitude, in good soil of a deep nature but friable 

 loam, on clay and gravel, they have been very successfully culti- 

 vated by the veteran and enterprising grower, Mr Foulis. He has 

 reared the Taxodium there in quantity from seed, and the plants 

 have in twenty-two years attained a height of 38 feet ; but in 



