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THE WEEPING CYPRESS. 



Cuprcssus Funebris. 



Amoxg recent importations of hardy ornamental evergreens, calculated to afford 

 hereafter a new feature in our garden and landscape scenery, there is nothing to 

 rival this beautiful tree. Graceful in outline, interesting in its foliage, and novel in 

 general contour, it deserves all the eulogiums which have been passed upon it by all 

 the most distinguished Botanists of the present day. 



The traveller who appears originally to have noticed the Funebral Cypress, or at 

 least, the first who has left any recorded facts in relation to it, was Sir George 

 Staunton, when exploring China in the embassy of Lord Macartney. Subsequently, 

 however, Mr. Fortune — who has, we think, proved by the happy results of his 

 Botanical researches, that there is something in a name — met with it near the 

 celebrated Tea-country, "Whey Chow ; and through the interest of that gentleman, 

 Messrs. Standish and Noble of Bagshot were enabled to import both seeds and 

 young plants. 



In the Gardeners Chronicle of April 15th, 1850, Mr. Fortune says: — The 

 most beautiful tree in this district is a Weeping Cypress, which I had never met 

 with in any other part of China, and which is doubtless quite new ; ' and he 

 describes it as a ' noble looking tree, about sixty feet high, having a stem as straight 

 as the Norfolk Island Pine, and pendulous branches like the Weeping Willow. 

 The branches grew at first horizontally with the main stem, then described a 

 graceful curve upwards, and drooped again at the points. From these main 

 branches, others, long and slender, hung down towards the ground, and gave the 

 whole tree a weeping and graceful form. It was also very symmetrical, and 

 reminded me of some of those large and gorgeous chandeliers which one sees in 

 public halls in Europe.' In regard to its effect in scenery, Mr. F. has the follow- 

 ing : — ' It has a most striking and beautiful effect upon the Chinese landscape ; 

 and I have no doubt, in a few years, to see the same effect produced by it on our 

 own. It will be particularly valuable for park scenery, for lawns, for the entrance 

 to suburban residences, and as an ornament for our cemeteries. I have no doubt 

 that it is quite as hardy as the Cryptomeria Japonica and the Indian Deodar, and 

 will be a fit companion for both in our parks and pleasure grounds.' The fact of 

 its being quite hardy, as conjectured by Mr. Fortune, is now perfectly established. 

 Messrs. Standish and Noble have hundreds of young plants which have stood 

 exposed two winters unharmed ; and a still more convincing proof is afforded by 



