LM8 ON TIIK TAXODIUM SEMPKllVIKKNS. 



tliiuiuul, Llioso thiii]iiu<4X niiohl, ho jxuilcjd lur bark, while tlicir 

 strjii«i,]it stoins won hi connnjind a I'oady sale for liop-polos, li<^lit 

 s])ai\s, Htobs, or siioli lik(^ j)iir])ost3S. 



\l may ha iiitorcsliiiM- to note llic dirfcrenco and mark the 

 details of mcasnroHUiiil of the Taxodinm sc/mpcrvircns, under the 

 favourable coui])ariMou of two ti'oes, receiviiin^' similar treatment 

 as to manai^enuMit, being in one ])lace. At l>elvoir, for exam])le, 

 this ])ine has been nourishing amongst the many other line 

 varieties of eonifera^ which abound thisi-e; and one tree, raised 

 from a. cutting twinity yeai's ago, and planted in its present site 

 from th(^ ('utting-bed, is now a beaulirully feathered specimen, 

 densely clothed with droo])ing braiichiis, the extremities of the 

 longest of which, turn u})wards in the most graceful manner, and 

 the])lant has attained to 1)2 feet in height, with a girth of 3 feet 8 

 inches at 1 foot from the ground. Another cutting-raised tree, 

 more recently planted, when 5 feet 2 inches in height in 18G6, 

 in a snudl ])lantation u])()u a thin surface soil on a rocky sub- 

 stratum, and growing very freely in a situation sheltered by 

 Piiivs larwio and other trees, is now 27 feet in height, with a 

 girth at 1 foot from the ground of -> feet. The diameter and spread 

 of branches, in the iirst instance, is 19 feet, whih; in the second 

 it is 21 feet. In this situation, the Taxodinm has, as in some 

 other localities, ])roved itself somewhat fastidious ; wherever it 

 is sheltered, and has a fair depth of soil, it grows freely and vigor- 

 ously, but, on the contrary, where tliere is a want of shelter, espe- 

 cially from the prevailing Avinds and s])ring frosts, it becomes 

 irreguhirly hranclied,and assumes a meagre unhealthy appearance. 



Tliis characteristic is also to be found holding true of the 

 species in other districts comprised in our incpiiries, but with 

 close planting in mass, and amongst other plantation nurses, the 

 peculiarity will disappear; and it is also a noticeable fact that 

 in some instances where young jdants have failed from the usual 

 common com])laint of spring-frost effects, if l)y any chance in 

 these localiti(\s, one or two of tlie jdants survive and attain a 

 height of 5 or 6 feet, they then beconui nu)re hardy, being above the 

 dew-line; and Ave have little doubt, if many plants apparently dvnd, 

 after severe winds in March and A})ril, were allowed to remain, 

 and were not thrown out, they would be found to possess sullicient 

 vitality to recruit, and yet develope good and hardy constitutions. 



1^'rom these considerations, aiul others which we may now 

 refer to in a few brief remarks, it may be suggested that, for the 

 successful rearing of Taj'odiuiii sempervire7iSy and such other 

 descri])tions of the coniferous family as are liable to be injured 

 by the late spring frosts in this country, and es])ecially for such 

 as are prone to throw out their young wood growths early in the 

 season, Jioine nursery seedlings, reared in the soil, and about the 

 altitude of the climate in which they are ultimately to grow, are 

 far more certain of success, and appear to be hardier in constitu- 



