COMPARATIVE VALUE OF EXOTIC CONIFER.E IN BRITAIN. 219 



ground, certainly the largest cypress in this country at that rtirae. 

 One feels curious to know if this fine old tree still lives. 



G. thyoides (the White Cedar). Syn. Chamcecyparis sphceroidea. — 

 Introduced in 1736. Habitat, Eastern United States. Height, 70 

 to 80 feet ; and grows luxuriantly in low-lying swampy ground. 

 Its wood in America is considered superior to that of any other 

 tree for making shingles for roofs. Several varieties of the White 

 Cedar are found in collections, but none of them are so valuable as 

 the type for timber', although they are all hardy and ornamental. 



C. torulosa (the Tufted Cypress). — Introduced in 1824. Habitat, 

 the Himalayas. A moderately hardy and very handsome tree. 



Remarks. — The cypresses to which I have referred are what 

 may be termed forest trees ; and, in addition, other purely 

 ornamental ones might be mentioned, such as C. funehris, C. Gove- 

 niana, G. Knigldiana, and G. Macnahiana, all more or less hardy, 

 and useful for oi'namenting pleasure gi'ounds. 



The Juniper. 



Juniperus chinensis (the Chinese Juniper). — Introduced in 1804. 

 Habitat, China and Thibet. One of the best of the family, and 

 along with several of its pretty varieties is a very useful orna- 

 mental tree. 



J. excelsa (the Greek Juniper). — Introduced in 1806. Habitat, 

 Greece and Asia Minor. This, and especially the variety J. e. 

 stricta, are very beautiful lawn shrubs or small trees, and worthy 

 of a place in all collections. 



J. virginiana (the Red Cedar). — Introduced in 1664. Habitat, 

 North America. This is a well-known and useful tree, and the 

 timber furnishes the " cedar " wood used for pencils. The true 

 " pencil cedar," however, is the wood of J. hermudiana, the 

 Bermuda Juniper, but the tree is too tender to stand our winters. 



There are several other species and many varieties of Juniper 

 that are very interesting, and all deserve a place in ornamental 

 grounds, although few or none of them pi-oduce timber in this 

 country of any commercial value. 



The Larch. 



Larix europcea (the Common Larch). — Introduced about 1629. 



Habitat, Central Europe and Siberia. The most valuable of all 



our conifei'ous trees. The wood is applicable for almost any 



purpose, and weighs when green 68 lbs. 13 oz. ; and when dry 



