1873.] NOTES ON HARDY CONIFERS. 541 



T. micifeiB. (the Nut-hearing Torreya). — This species is found 

 ■wild on mountains in the north of Japan, particularly on the islands 

 of Niphon and Sikak, where it occurs in great abundance as a large 

 shrub or tree of from 20 to 30 feet in height, and is also cultivated 

 all over Japan, its nuts producing an oil useful for culinary purposes. 



It is here a compact broadly conical bush, with numerous horizontal 

 branches divided into short branchlets, thickly cldthed with Yew- 

 like leaves of a dark glossy green colour above and slightly glaucous 

 underneath. Where this plant succeeds, it forms an extremely pretty 

 and interesting specimen, very desirable as a variety among other 

 dwarf or slow-growing Conifers. 



T. myristica {the Callfornian Nutmeg). — This is a fine species 

 indigenous to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California : intro- 

 duced in 1848. It is said to be a small bushy-headed tree with 

 spreading horizontal branches, growing to heights of from 20 to 40 

 feet. The timber is of a light-yellow colour, heavy, fine-grained, and 

 is said to resist the attacks of insects better than any of the other 

 pines. 



Since its introduction to Britain, it has been widely distributed in 

 almost every district ; and while it undoubtedly requires to be well 

 sheltered, it has proved itself to be the hardiest of the genus, and 

 fine specimens are frequently to be met with growing as freely as the 

 common Yew. Its habit of growth is sharply conical ; the branches, 

 which clothe the stem from the ground upwards, are divided into short 

 stiff branchlets ; the leaves are shaped like those of the Yew, and from 

 2 to 2J inches long, of a yellowish-green colour above, and of a 

 paler tint underneath. It is an elegant lawn plant, and valuable as a 

 contrast with others of darker tints and denser habits of growth. 



SALISBUEIA ADIANTIFOLIA (tHE MAIDENHAIR TEEe). 



Of this beautiful genus this is as yet the only species known to 

 botanists. It is found abundantly not only wild, but in cultivation as 

 an ornamental and timber tree — in many provinces in China and 

 Japan forming a handsome deciduous tree of from 80 to 100 feet 

 in height. 



It has been cultivated in British gardens since 1754, and large 

 handsome examples of it are to be found all over the country. Its 

 habit of growth is erect and bushy, with a conical-shaped head ; the 

 branches are somewhat irregularly disposed on the stem, horizontal, 

 and much divided into short branchlets ; the leaves, which are pro- 

 duced in great profusion, are about IJ inch broad, fan or wedge 

 shaped, and have the appearance of the pinnules of a large Adiantum 

 Eern. They are on both sides of a pale-green colour. 



