HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES 89 



small or bush -like conifers. Usually it forms a 

 bush of about 12 feet in height, with the diameter 

 of branch-spread almost equal from base to tip, 

 the branches slightly ascending, and the branchlets 

 and young shoots gracefully pendulous. A peculiar 

 habit of this species is that some of the branches 

 project farther than others, but curiously enough, 

 such branches are so regularly spread over the 

 specimen, that any irregularity of habit is quite 

 lost sight of, and this is further aided by the weep- 

 ing tips, which hang limp and free for several 

 inches in length and constitute an unusual and 

 distinctive charm. Very beautiful, too, is the 

 silvery sheen of the foliage that is brought about 

 by the conspicuous glaucous furrow that is present 

 on the upper side of the leaves. Each leaf is half 

 an inch long, narrow, and very stiff, and terminat- 

 ing in a sharp point. At no period of growth is 

 /. rigid a more beautiful than during the months 

 of June and July, for then the light green (almost 

 of a yello\\ish tint) of the young growths contrasts 

 markedly with the deep, bright green of the older 

 foHage, which later on assumes a w^arm browTiish 

 tint. 



For ornamental planting I would place this only 

 second to the better-known /. reciirva, but it has 

 the advantage over that popular species in that 

 it succeeds well in the very soil where the other 

 becomes rusty and infested with red spider. By 

 far the finest specimen that has come under my 

 notice is growing in deep sandy soil near the race- 

 course at Sandown Park ; it is 13 feet high and 

 nearly 5 feet through, and is as perfect a specimen 

 conifer as could be desired. 



