DWABF AND SLOW-GEOWINO CONIFERS 11 



abhor biting winds, and must be given a wind-sheltered 

 position. 



In my climate — about 32 inches of rain and thermometer 

 in winter usually down to about 8 degrees Fahr. (sometime 

 in January), for a short spell — most of those tried have 

 proved hardy. Cupressus obtusa, var. Sanderi, I think, is 

 delicate, and I always cover it with heather branches. 

 Juniperus communis compressa and some of the Japanese 

 cryptomerias are also of doubtful hardiness, but the 

 number of named forms is now so large that there is 

 ample room for selection for all purposes, and many of 

 the pygmies are themselves natives of wind-swept winter- 

 cold regions, and consequently can defy the worst we 

 can offer them. 



Selection. — As to choice of varieties, one must be guided 

 by the size of one's garden and the purpose for which we 

 require the trees. The term " dwarf " conifer has been in 

 the past rather loosely used to denote all trees that do not 

 grow tall, thus including some prostrate forms that might, 

 in time, cover a good-sized garden. However, these are 

 exceptions ; as a rule, 7 to 8 feet is about the ultimate limit 

 of height of the strongest growing forms (arborescent trees 

 of the same age should exceed 100 feet). One can select 

 forms varying from that height down to a foot or less. 



The little trees are found in many shapes ; tiny f astigiate 

 columns, compact cones, round ball-like shrubs; pyramids 

 broad and narrow, and little bushes with flat tops ; others 

 with round umbrella-like tops; low round or humped 

 cushions. Bushes regular and irregular, with neat 

 compact evenly arranged branchlets and foliage, and 

 with the same twisted and contorted like a tangled head 

 of hair. 



They also differ greatly in colour. Every shade of green 

 will be found among them, likewise foliage of glaucous 

 grey and blue, foliage all gold or silver, or splotched with 

 either. Shrubs with young shoots all white ; shrubs which, 

 while retaining their leaves, change their colour in winter. 



