i62 CONIFEROUS TREES 



Lindley ; Pseudolarix Kaempferi, Gordon,) North- 

 em China. 1853. — ^This is a rare and beautiful 

 tree, which, from the midland counties south- 

 wards, is perfectly hardy. It is a distinctly 

 ornamental conifer, and that at three different 

 periods of the year — early spring, when the long 

 and tender green leaves are unfolding ; autumn, 

 when they put on the lovely golden colour ; and 

 during the leafless period, when the yellowish 

 green or golden brown bark of the younger 

 branches shows off to perfection, and renders the 

 trees distinct from almost every other in cultiva- 

 tion. In this cormtry the largest specimens have 

 the stems well furnished with semi -pendent 

 branches. The leaves vary in length according 

 to their position on the tree, but are usually from 

 1 1 inches to 2 inches long. From home-grown 

 specimens of the cones that have been forwarded 

 to me, the average size would be about 2 inches 

 long by I J inches broad ; but with the age of the 

 cone and opening out of the scales the measure- 

 ments vary much. They are composed of a 

 number of diverging scales, each i inch long and 

 half that in width, which, after the ripening of 

 the cone, soon fall apart. The tree succeeds well 

 in not too stiff loamy soil or that of a peaty com- 

 position. Dampish situations suit it best, and 

 it is by no means impatient either of shelter or 

 shading. 



