348 THE GARDENER. [Aua 



In a young state its habit of growth is sharply conical, but as it 

 advances the branches become more spreading, and show a tendency 

 to assume the broad horizontal style characteristic of the tree on its 

 native mountains. The foliage is of a rich dark-green colour, and the 

 general appearance similar to that of the Cypresses. 



Like all the rest of its tribe, it grows best when sheltered and in 

 good rich soil, and is never more beautiful than when planted singly 

 as a specimen on grass. 



Among several varieties there are two variegations deserving of 

 special notice — the one, named aurea, has its green branchlets freely 

 intermixed with golden yellow, and argentea, in a similar manner 

 with silvery white. Both were found originally in gardens in Japan, as 

 indeed were most, if not all, the varieties in cultivation. These are 

 much dwarfer than the species, but quite as hardy, and very effective 

 in spring when making their young growths. 



R. pisifera (tlw pea-fruited Retinosjwra), found wild in mountain 

 forests in the Island of Niphon associated with R. obtusa, is a very 

 handsome but much smaller tree, seldom rising higher than from 20 

 to 30 feet, and producing timber of equal value to that species. 



It is here thoroughly hardy, and grows more rapidly than R. obtusa, 

 forming a beautiful lawn-specimen of a broadly conical shape ; the 

 branches very slender, and shooting out from the stem in a horizontal 

 direction. The foliage has a distinct, warm, green tint on the upper 

 surface, and is bright glaucous on the under. It thrives well under 

 similar conditions with R. obtusa, to which it is a fine companion- 

 plant. 



The following varieties can scarcely be too highly spoken of — their 

 neat style of growth and brilliancy of colours render them almost 

 universal favourites, and must always secure for them a prominent 

 place among decorative shrubs ; they are dwarfer than the species, but 

 quite as hardy, and invaluable for flower-garden beds or rockeries : 

 Argentea, with most of its branchlets tipped with bright silvery 

 white j Aurea, and ISTana aurea, the latter one of the dwarfest and 

 neatest of Conifers, the branchlets of both appearing as if gilt with 

 the purest gold. 



R. squarrosa {the scaly-leaved Jtetinosj^ora) is found wild on the 

 Island of Kiusiu in Japan, where it attains a height of from 10 to 15 

 feet. It is only seen here as a small round-headed bush, densely 

 furnished with long slender branches, clothed with abundance of 

 glaucous-coloured leaves. It is quite hardy, but requires a sheltered 

 situation, and is handsome enough to be recommended as a rock-work 

 plant, or for associating with the other dwarf species in flower-garden 

 beds, to which, from its peculiar colour, it makes an effective contrast. 



