2S2 TRANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARBOUICULTUHAL SOCIETY. 



argenfea and aurea, are better known, and more commonly cul- 

 tivated as ornamental trees, than any of the other species or 

 varieties. For garden and lawn decoration these conifers are not 

 surpassed, either in point of beauty or ease of culture, by any 

 other with which we are acquainted. They are of Japanese 

 origin, and were introduced into this country in 18C1. 



100. Sciadopitys verticillata (Umbrella Pine). — Planters, gener- 

 ally speaking, have been somewhat tardy in procuring specimens 

 of this tree, and that for two reasons ] its supposed inability to 

 withstand a severe winter, and the high price at which a fair- 

 sized plant can be obtained. Fortunately, the first supposition 

 has, after a fair and unprejudiced trial, been found to be withoiit 

 foundation, as some of the finest plants I know of this conifer 

 are growing in northern Scottish counties, and are, in point of 

 health, appearance, and rapidity of growth, little behind those in 

 the warmer parts of the south of England. As to the high price 

 at which a plant of sufiicient size for planting can be procured, 

 I am by no means surprised, as the Sciadojniys is, perhaps, our 

 rarest conifer, only one very limited habitat having been recorded. 

 The Umbrella Pine is well worthy of a place in every collection ; 

 for the deep, glossy-green leaves spreading out like the rays of an 

 umbrella, and decidedly pleasing contour of the plant, render the 

 Sciadopitys one of the most distinct and peculiar of hardy conifers. 

 A native of Japan, on a mountain in the Island of Nippon, and 

 introduced in 1853. 



101. Sequoia semper vir ens (Calif ornian Redwood). — For its 

 ornamental appearance the redwood is worthy of extensive 

 culture, but it is well to bear in mind at time of planting, that 

 it only puts on its tree character when placed in good rich soils 

 and in partially sheltered situations. The foliage is of a dark, 

 pleasant green above, and silvery underneath, and to some extent 

 resembles that of the common yew, while the branches are 

 in-egularly arranged and usually semi-pendent. By depriving 

 the stem of its branches — that is, in old trees — for say 5 

 feet from the ground, we consider that the appearance of such 

 trees is vastly improved, the thick, spongy, reddish-brown and 

 deeply furrowed bark, which constitutes one of the peculiarities 

 of the Ptedwood, being then shown to advantage. As regards 

 the quality of timber produced in this country, it is in every 

 respect fairly satisfactory, judging from specimens of hardly thirty 

 years' growth. At the age of fifty or one hundred years, and 



