272 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



The Common Jumper is a native of North America, 

 Europe, and Asia. In this country its limits extend from 

 "New Jersey and Pennsylvania, northward into Canada, 

 and in Europe it is found throughout the most northern 

 portions, and is particularly plentiful on the Alps and Ap- 

 ennines. 



The Common Juniper varies from 5 to 10 feet in height, 

 and in cultivation frequently grows much larger. Its 

 branches are usually numerous and erect, although more 

 or less straggling in growth, frequently spreading and 

 forming a sprawling bush. This tendency to spread causes 

 the shape of the plant to be injured by heavy masses of 

 snow lodging in the centre. A few wires drawn tightly 

 around the main branches is a sure preventive. The out- 

 line should also be preserved perfectly symmetrical by 

 shearing off all superabundant growth, and thus cause the 

 plant to become more dense and compact. 



"We have noticed the frequent use of this Juniper for a 

 hedge-plant, but it is unfit for this purpose. The lower 

 branches are apt to die out, thus presenting an unhand- 

 some appearance at the base, and during cold winters the 

 immature branchlets are occasionally destroyed. Indeed 

 all of the genus are more or less liable to the objection of 

 dying out, not even excepting our Red Cedar, (J~. Virgin- 

 iana); and we recommend planting for hedges the Ar- 

 bor Yitaes and Hemlock Spruce in preference to any of the 

 Junipers. 



Adult plants of this species will occasionally form quite 

 large trees. The Bartram specimen, according to Mee- 

 han's " Hand-book of Ornamental Trees," is " 35 feet high, 

 and 2|- feet in circumference. It is growing on a dry loam 

 .with a gravelly subsoil, which seems to suit it admirably." 



Scarcely any plant is so liable to assume a multiplicity 

 of shapes as this. We have seen a large number of young 

 seedlings in nursery rows, where scarcely two were alike 

 in every particular. Occasionally they present a tall, erect 



