HARDY CONIFEROUS TREES 169 



described as ornamental, yet they are so distinct 

 that their presence in the park or garden is quite 

 desirable. In all the specimens I examined the 

 branches spring out directly at right angles to the 

 main stem for a distance of about 3 inches, then 

 turn abruptly downwards parallel and close to 

 the stem for, in many instances, a length of 4 feet. 

 The foliage is quite normal, and the cones are i| 

 inches long, by fully i inch wide, and on a stout 

 foot-stalk, hardly three-quarters of an inch long. 

 A specimen about 30 feet in height may be seen 

 at Berkhampstead, in Herts. 



S. SEMPERViRENS, EndUckeY. The Redwood 

 of California. (Synonym : Taxodium semper- 

 virens, Lambert,) 1846. — A noble tree that, when 

 suitably placed, produces a large quantity of 

 valuable timber in this country. Like the former 

 species, it requires a certain amount of shelter, 

 else the foliage becomes thin and the tree stunted 

 and starved in appearance. 



When seen under favourable circumstances the 

 Redwood is of informal pyramidal outline, with 

 a well-formed trunk covered with thick, spongy, 

 reddish brown bark. In young trees the leaves 

 are long and linear, while in those of older growth 

 they are usually closely appressed, and of as deep 

 a colour as the yew. The cones are about half 

 the size of those of S. gigantea. 



In deep and rich soils, and where shelter is 

 afforded, the Redwood in this country is of truly 

 noble growth, many specimens being over 100 

 feet in height, with trunks over 4 feet in diameter. 

 Unlike the generality of coniferous trees, the Red- 

 wood sends up suckers from the base of the stem, 



