I 



ASIATIC CONIFERS. 



nui-series, I had never seen so large or beautiful a specimen before. It was a tree 

 some thirty feet in height, feathered to the ground ; at its base it is broader than the 

 other i\j-bor Vit?es. This, I should suppose, would have a diameter of from fifteen to 

 twenty feet, gradually tapering to the point — very symmetrical, yet not showing a stitf 

 outline like the Chinese, but filling beautifully up with its graceful feathery branches. 

 In color it is not as good as the Chinese, yet better than our native plant. This I 

 consider the most beautiful of all the Arbor Vittes, and very hardy, and whoever 

 plants evergreens should not overlook this. Native countries, north of Asia and Nepal. 



Biota stricta ; syn. Thuya stricta. — There appears to be some confusion regarding 

 this plant. The true species appears to be something in the way of the preceding, 

 but, as the name implies, more strict in its growth. An erect growing variety of the 

 Chinese is sometimes sora for this plant. A tall tree from north of Asia. 



Biota texdula; syn. Thuya pexdula — Wcepinr/ jh-bor Viicc. — This very singular 

 and distinct plant is so very dissimilar to the other species of tlie genus, that we need 

 not be surprised when we hear people assert — and some do — that this is a cross 

 between a Juniper and Arbor VitK ; yet a close inspection by any one acquainted 

 with the genus will soon convince him it is a true species. It is a straggling weeping 

 bush, having long flexible shoots, in the way of some of the Australian Casaurinas. 

 This plant grows freely when grafted on any of the other Arbor Vitas. Standard 

 high it forms a singular weeping plant, though I cannot say a strikingly beautiful one. 

 Native of Northern Asia, 



CuPRESsus TORULosA — Himalayan Cypress. — Thousands of seedlings of this tree 

 have been raised in the principal English nurseries of late years. It is a very rapid 

 growing tree, and evidently a very beautiful one. There are several varieties, some of 

 which rather tender, and will not stand many degrees of frost, while others are pretty 

 hardy ; the variety elegantisslma is as hardy as any that I know. As this plant 

 grows rapidly and late in the fall in England, its shoots being young and sappy are 

 frequently cut back by frost. In this country where the wood would be well ripened 

 it will stand several degrees more cold. Should, however, the winters of the Middle 

 States be too severe, it will grow admirably in the States a little more south, and 

 from its extreme beauty it should be liberally planted. Writing of this tree Dr. 

 LiNDLEY says :* " It would seem that there is but one species of Cypress inhabiting 

 the north of India, and that the Cupressus torulosa — why so called we cannot dis- 

 cover. For the native country of this plant Bhotan was first given by the late Prof. 

 Dox, upon the authority of Mr. Webb. Afterwards, Dr. Royle stated that it appeared 

 to be the plant called Tlteelo by the natives, seen between Simla and Phagoo, and near 

 Jangkee Ke Ghat, a high hill to the southward of Piol. It is also found in Kemaen, 

 near Neetee, Simla, and in Kunawur." Endlicher says that it occurs in Butan and 

 Nepal as high as 8500 feet of elevation. Dr. Wallicu adds the southern mountains 

 of Oude. Is it really true that there is but one Indian Cypress, and that the torulosa / 

 And is the torulosa what is spoken of by all these writers ? We doubt it much. In 

 the first place, Cupr. horizontalis occurs in Persia ; why not in India ? In the next 

 *Paxton's Flower Garden.— VoL I, p. 16T. 



