THE CYPRESS SUB-FAMILY. 341 



The Cypresses constitute a remarkably elegant class of 

 trees, with mostly slender, drooping branches, or, in a few 

 instances, rather formal in outline. In England, where 

 the majority are hardy, writers speak of them as rivaling 

 in elegance and delicacy most of the order ; and the variety 

 and great diversity of forms presented by the different 

 species cause them to be held in high esteem. With us, 

 to a certain extent, they are rare and unknown ; for al- 

 though we have sufficiently tested such species as C. toru- 

 losa, C. funebris, and C. sempervirens, there yet remain a 

 number of beautiful kinds that may eventually prove use- 

 ful in our collections. 



The Cypress has always been the emblem of mourning, 

 and in some countries the trees are used for planting in 

 cemeteries, where their drooping or upright characters 

 eminently fit them for the situation. 



" O'er ruined shrines and silent tombs 

 The weeping Cypress spreads its glooms, 

 In immortality of woe." 



This custom was introduced by the ancient Romans, who 

 not only planted this tree near the last resting-place of 

 their relatives and friends, but, according to tradition, 

 used it for the purpose of expressing their mourning by 

 placing young sprigs against the house, in the manner 

 crape is used at the present day. The practice of plant- 

 ing the Cypress upon graves is yet religiously observed 

 by the Turks, and the tree is consequently held in respect 

 and veneration by them. 



The derivation of the name is supposed to be in honor 

 of the intimate friend of the god Apollo, Cyparissus, son 

 of Telephus, who was transformed by Apollo into the 

 Cypress tree, after he had died of grief, caused by killing 

 the god's stag. Some authors, however, suppose the name 

 to be derived from the Isle of Cypress, where this genus 

 was first found in abundance. 



It appears that Spach has separated a portion of this 



