168 THE FLORIST. 



flowers of a medium tint, including buff, orange, scarlet, lilac, rose, and 

 their shades. Twenty-four such blooms of good form, and well matched 

 for size, might be arranged in twenty different methods, and a good 

 effect always produced. Possibly the autumn will scarcely ever grow 

 plants in such profusion as to ensure the requisite number of every 

 colour. I fear we can scarcely expect, in this case, a really good and 

 teUing arrangement. With growers for sale it is another matter. 

 Perhaps some one or more among them will make an attempt in this 

 direction. Should it prove successful, the enthusiastic amateur will 

 soon be eager to increase the number of his plants ; and herein the 

 dealer may probably find a recompense for his trouble. 



To conclude. I am by no means certain that I have penetrated to 

 the root of this matter. But that there are certain definite causes in 

 operation, tending to produce the defect of which I have been speaking, 

 who can doubt ? Many of our Dahlia growers are men of cultivated 

 taste ; and yet I could find only one collection at the Surrey Gardens, 

 and certainly not one at Brighton last autumn, in which the attempt to 

 produce a tasteful and harmonious combination of colour (if, indeed, such 

 attempt were made) was crowned with success. 



Another point connected with the exhibition of the DahUa attracted 

 my notice at the same time and place, to which I propose, ere long, to 

 invite the attention of the readers of the Fhrist, whose pages I hold to 

 be the legitimate medium of inter-communication for all and every one 

 of the members of our trul?/ " gentle crafl." A. S. H. 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF HARDY CONIFERS.— No. VI. 



XII. CUNNINGHAMIA SINENSIS — THE CHINESE CUNNINGHAMIA. 



Our woodcut for the present number represents a tree of the Cunning- 

 hamia, about twenty-five years old, growing in the grounds at 

 Tottenham Park, the residence of the ]\Iarquis of Aylesbury, in Wilts, 

 and taken by permission of our esteemed fi'iend, Mr. Burn. 



This is a remarkable and distinct Conifer, resembling Araucaria 

 Braziliana in its general appearance. It forms a low spreading tree, 

 producing numerous branches growing horizontally, and furnished with 

 lance-shaped leaves, thickly set on the branches, sessile, much pointed 

 and spreading in all directions. The male and female organs are on 

 the same plant. Cones small, roundish, and drooping. 



The Cunninghamia is a native of China, principally in the southern 

 provinces, and was first introduced in 1804. For some years after- 

 wards it was considered tender, but is proved to be hardy to the south of 

 London, and is found to stand the winter \vithout protection in many 

 parts of Scotland. Owing, however, to the doubts which have existed 

 on this point, the Cunninghamia is but seldom met with in collections. 

 We regret this, and as the late severe winter does not appear to have 

 injured any specimens we have seen, including the fine plant we figure, 

 it must be considered hardy. When first planted it grows slowly, and is 

 much disposed to throw up several leaders, which should all be stopped 

 back, except one to form the stem. This habit doubtless arises from 



