October 28, 1860. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



309 



or a kindred species was blown down in a gale of no extraor- 

 dinary violence, and on examining its roots I found it had been 

 turned out of a pot in the same way as a Geranium or other 

 sumnror-llowering plant. One prominent root coiled itself once 

 or twice round the pot, and above tho collar, nml on the tree 

 being planted the collar swelled until it met this circular band, 

 which, of course, strengthened also. The collar also, however, 

 swelled over it, surrounded it, and in some degree made an 

 attempt to unite itself again on the other side of the hand, but 

 the advancing growth of the latter prevented this, so that the 

 tree had to balance itself on that portion of its trunk which 

 was inside the circular coil of roots, and which was about 

 4 inches in diameter. For a time this was sufficient, but not 

 so when the top became enlarged and heavy, and tho result 

 was the destruction of tho tree. Now, this state of things is 

 by no means uncommon, not only with tho Cypress, but also 

 with tho Pinus tribe, and I would, therefore, warn all planters 

 against running tho risk of after-accidents from tho tree 

 standing on " corkscrew " roots. Uncoiling the roots after 

 being in a pot may cause the plant to suffer for a short time, 

 but it is better that it should thus sustain a temporary check, 

 than be blown down ten years afterwards, or, which is almost 

 as bad, have to bo propped up. 



I may add, that our large specimen of Cupressus macro- 

 carpa never had any support after the first month or so that it 

 was planted, but the situation is sheltered, several other hush;. 

 Pinuses surrounding it and breaking the force of the wind, 

 otherwise I hardly think it would have been so erect at the 

 present time, as we have lost other and smaller plants standing 

 more exposed. I can also vouch for all Mr. McDonald says 

 of the hardiness of Cupressus macrocarpa, as the severe 

 winter of 1860-61, which gave a very slight tinge of brown to 

 one side of a Wellingtonia, did not seem to do it the least 

 injury. It has for some years borne cones, which are globular 

 and larger than those of the Arbor Vita ; it also strikes freely 

 from cuttings. Those who want a quick-growing plant for 

 symmetrical training, will, I believe, find that it bears cutting- 

 in well ; but I only speak from opinion on this point, having 

 confined my operations with the knife to removing a rival 

 leader now and then, and this not on the specimen above 

 referred to, which, though densely clothed all the way up, has 

 always maintained a proper leader, to which all the others are 

 subordinate. 



Cupressus Lawsoniana. — The plants of this beautiful species 

 which we have here are small, not having been planted so long 

 as some others; but it promises to speedily claim its position 

 as a fine graceful tree of rapid growth. It is quite hardy, and 

 has also the good property of not suffering much by transplant- 

 ing, for last winter we removed upwards of two hundred plants, 

 averaging 4 feet in height, and I believe not one of them has 

 suffered in the least, whilst with a like number of tho Welling- 

 tonia the loss has been severe. I may, however, warn those 

 who may wish to plant this tree where game abounds, that 

 rabbits are very fond of it, and they quickly destroy it. The 

 tree promises to thrive well on most soils, and with us grows 

 rapidly on a rather dry, stony one, where, however, its roots can 

 descend as low as they like. I have seen a variegated form of 

 this plant, which, however, is more a novelty than a desirable 

 acquisition. 



Cupressus torulosa, Knightiana, and Goveniana are all 

 useful. C. Knightiana is a very strong grower. All are deserv- 

 ing attention. 



CurREssus Uhdeana. — Our specimen is 17 feet high and 

 8 feet in diameter. This is a fast-growing tree of a rich silvery 

 grey colour, making a marked contrast with the dark emerald 

 green of C. macroearpa. Much larger specimens, I believe, exist 

 in other places, but I have not seen any that exhibit a more 

 silvery hue. It is perfectly distinct from the other members 

 of this numerous family, and on that account deserves a place 

 in every collection. It also promises to become a tree, which 

 all the Cypresses certainly will not. 



Cupressus fvneeris. — The specimen is 12 feet high and 

 6.J feet in diameter, having grown 3j feet in the last live years. 

 I cannot say much in favour of this species, for it has failed to 

 become so popular as it promised to be, being a shrub rather 

 than a tree, and the severe winter of 1860-61, though it did 

 not injure the specimen in question, killed several in other 

 parts of England. Like the Virginian Cedar (.Tuniperus vir- 

 giniana), and some other Junipefrs, it has two distinct sets of 

 foliage, giving one part of the plant a different character from 

 the other. From what I have seen of it I should say that 

 plants about 6 feet high look as well as any. The outline of 



tho tree is more elliptical than conical, or, I may say, egg- 

 i baped, with the broadest end upwards. 



Cupressus sesipervirens is here 33 feet high and 5 feet in 

 diameter. This fine old Italian Cypre :s i I still deserving of a 

 place everywhere, and grows more freely than the Swedish 

 Juniper, Irish Yew, and other upright plants which are some- 

 lime- wanted to give a feature to dri i ! [rounds. It seems 

 to succeed best in a deep rich soil, but it also thrives on a dry 

 stony one, as several plants which we have here are on a site 

 of the latter kind. For depth of colour it is only second to 

 C macrocarpa. 



The species of Cupressus which I have mentioned constitute, 



1 think, the cream of the genus; but there are many others, 

 of which I must leave the merits to be described by those 

 possessing better specimc ns. 1 may also remark that many 

 of the names by which the species aro known are merely 

 synonymes. 



Deciduous Cypress (Taxodium distiehum), 25.! feet high and 

 14 feet in diameter, having grown 6{ feet during the last five 

 years. This is a small tree as compared with many in the 

 country, and is only mentioned in order to recommend its 

 cultivation. Its neat Fern-like foliage renders it a general 

 favourite at all seasons, more especially in the autumn when 

 its foliage dies off to a fine rich apricot colour. As a tree I 

 should expect its timber to be good, but its growth is not quick 

 enough for the English planter to enter extensively into its 

 cultivation for profit. I should think a soil not too dry will 

 best suit it. 



Irish Yew. — Several fine specimens, the tallest being 18} feet 

 high and 4 feet in diameter ; this, however, has only grown 



2 feet in the five years. Other plants, 15 or 16 feet high, also 

 looked well. 



Libocedrus chilensis is llj feet high by 7 feet in diameter, 

 having grown about 1 foot a-year since it was planted. The 

 winter of 1860-61, which destroyed so many specimens in 

 various parts of England, only slightly injured this. It would, 

 however, be too much to assert that it will become a large and 

 ornamental tree, but it may attain the dimensions of the Arbor 

 Vita?, to which it is a fitting companion, although differing 

 widely from it in the colour as well as formation of the 

 foliage. 



Pinus excelsa. — A specimen 35 feet high and nearly tho same 

 in diameter, and several others are nearly as large, the growth 

 of the tallest being 8 feet in five years. There is considerable 

 difference in the appearance of these trees, some having the 

 foliage more drooping than others, and some have the scales 

 enclosing the young buds in spring green, while in others 

 they are of a beautiful rosy pink hue. The habit also differs, 

 some plants being more upright than others. Several of them 

 have borne cones, which are sometimes upwards of a foot long, 

 and of a purple colour, not so dark as those of Picea Webbiana ; 

 they are often slightly curved, and being pendulous have a 

 graceful appearance. The beautiful silvery grey hue of this 

 species will always entitle it to a first place in a collection. In 

 its bushy character the tree differs widely from Pinus cembra 

 and the Weymouth Pine (P. strobus), both of which resemble 

 it in colour. Our specimen did not suffer in the least from 

 the winter of 1860-61. P. excelsa may be regarded as one of 

 the hardiest of the genus, and promises as a tree to arrive at 

 the largest size. Unfortunately wo were obliged to sacrifice our 

 largest trees some years ago, otherwise we should most likely 

 have had specimens 6 feet higher than any we now possess. 



Pinus ixsionis, 51 feet high, and -11 feet in diameter, having 

 grown 11 feet during the last five y< ' iry handsome tree, 



densely clothed to the ground, on which its lower branches, or 

 rather limbs, rest. It has borne cones for many years, and I 

 have never noticed it in the least injured by frost ; indeed, it 

 seems as hardy here as a Scotch Fir, and grows more rapidly. 

 The above specimen would have been, perhaps, 12 or 15 feet 

 higher, had it not lost its leader about fifteen years ago, and re- 

 mained some years before forming another, which it did with- 

 out exhibiting any crook or other indication of the original 

 leader having been lost. The tree would probably not have 

 been so well clothed at bottom if it had not met with this 

 accident, but as it is, it would be impossible to look on any- 

 thing more healthy, and the dense green foliage gives it a re- 

 markable appearance at all times, more especially in winter. 

 Some young trees that were planted about a dozen years ago 

 have grown remarkably fast, one of them having gained 14* feet 

 in five years, and others nearly as much. Even in the young 

 state the tree looks well, and I think it stands the wind well. 

 Certainly the largest specimen here is in a sheltered position ; 



