CONIFERS 73 



varieties are the finest of its several forms. R. p. aurea, 

 bright golden yellow ; R. p. filifera, an elegant variety 

 with long slender branchlets ; R. p. prumosa, a handsome 

 form with dense feathery branchlets. 



TAXUS OR YEW. The Common Yew (Taxus baccata) 

 is too gloomy in appearance to admit of it being planted 

 otherwise than very sparingly in the garden, and under 

 no circumstances should it be planted on the margin of 

 ponds or small lakes, because of the dark shadow it 

 casts on the water. It is useful for hedges and for 

 forming a screen on the margin of gardens that are much 

 exposed. There are numerous handsome varieties, and 

 the most distinct of these are T. b. aurea, dense growing 

 form, with bright golden leaves ; one of the most 

 effective of the golden conifers, and especially desirable 

 because of the facility with which it can be kept to 

 any desired size. 71 b. Dovastoni, a handsome compara- 

 tively dwarf form with spreading, somewhat pendulous 

 branches. T. b.fastigata is the Irish Yew so well known 

 for its close columnar growth ; there are golden and 

 silvery forms, but the former is decidedly the most 

 effective. 71 b. glauca is remarkable for its greyish 

 leafage, but not required except in collections, and 

 71 b. gracilis pendula is not wanting in elegance, but it is 

 not equal to some others of the weeping conifers. 



THUIAS. These include a few desirable trees of 

 moderate stature, and like the species of cupressus are 

 compact and erect in growth. Thuia dolabrata is a beauti- 

 ful species well deserving of being generally planted ; 

 it grows most satisfactorily in a deep loamy soil contain- 

 ing a liberal amount of moisture, and should be planted 

 where it will not be exposed to easterly winds until 

 well established. 7. gigantea is a handsome tree, more 

 compact in habit and of larger growth than the preceding 

 species. The variety 7. g. aurea has golden leafage, and 

 7. g. gracilis is an elegant form of smaller growth than this 



