298 THE GARDENER. [July 



altitude and exposure ; and resembles, both in style of growth and 

 foliage, its near ally, the common or English Yew. 



Although found growing naturally at heights approaching the limits 

 of perpetual snow, it is peculiarly liable to injury from spring frosts, 

 and can scarcely be recommended as hardy enough for planting in 

 every locality in Britain ; there are, at the same time, many places 

 where it might be tried with a fair prospect of success ; and as it is, 

 w^hen seen in a thriving state, a handsome and interesting plant, it 

 deserves to be tried wherever a well-sheltered situation with a dry 

 porous soil is available. 



riTZ-ROYA PATAGONICA (tHE PATAGONIAN FITZ-ROYa). 



This distinct and interesting Conifer is found asociated with the 

 Saxe-Gothsea on high mountains in Patagonia, from whence it was also 

 sent home in 1846. The genus was named by Dr Hooker in compli- 

 ment to its discoverer. Captain Fitz-Roy. It is described as a grace- 

 ful tree, growing in sheltered valleys to heights of from 50 to 100 

 feet, but dwarfing down to a mere bush as it approaches the limits of 

 perpetual snow. 



Its value as a hardy ornamental plant may be stated as similar to 

 that of the Saxe-Gothsea ; for, while it is undoubtedly very handsome 

 where it succeeds, it requires a well-sheltered situation and a dry 

 soil, and it is only in such that it is ever seen to advantage in this 

 country. 



PODOCARPUS (the LONG-STALKED YEW^). 



In this group we have a large number of grand evergreen shrubs 

 and trees, some of them very lofty — natives of Asia, Africa, and 

 America, many of them producing excellent and durable timber. 

 Though botanically distinct, they are closely allied to, and resemble 

 both in foliage and habit of growth, the various forms of our Yews, 

 to which tribe some of the species are sometimes, though improperly, 

 referred. Out of some forty or fifty species and varieties known to 

 botanists, only two or three are sufficiently hardy for outdoor cultiva- 

 tion in Britain, and even these for the most part require to be planted 

 in well-sheltered localities. All the sorts thrive best in shady situations 

 and in peaty soils, or loams rich in vegetable matter, and when well 

 grown form distinct and interesting ornamental shrubs. The following 

 can be recommended as among the most desirable and worthy of a 

 trial where suitable conditions for their culture are available. 



P. Andina {the Andes Podocarpus), also known as P. sjncata, is a 

 native of high mountain-ranges in South Chili, where it is described 

 as forming a thickly-branched broadly-conical shrub or small tree, 

 varying in height according to altitude or exposure from 10 to 25 feet. 



