Ornamentals. 69 



monly made of this tree, and closely planted groves of it can 

 be seen on every hand. It grows wild in the mountains of 

 Akita Ken in the north of the main island, but it does not 

 propagate itself readily, a circumstance from which it is 

 argued that it is an introduced tree. It is, however, easily 

 propagated from seed, which is borne in abundance, and the 

 young plants are very generally used for hedges, being planted 

 very close and trimmed freely. The wood is used for lumber 

 and building purposes and much resembles red cedar. 



'■^ Podocarpus macropJiylla, Don (Jap., Alaki, Kusa-inaki), ^-nd 

 Podocarpiis Nageia, R. Br. (Jap., Nagi), and its variety rotundi- 

 folia, Maxim. {]2ip., Marul?a-nagi), are fine tall trees, the first 

 named especially having very large leaves. They thrive well 

 in Tokio, but their habitat is in southern Japan, and they 

 would, probably, not be hardy in the northern states. 

 "Of the firs may be mentioned : 



^^ Abies fif-ma, S. and Z. (Jap., Mcv/ii); Abies Veitchii, Lind- 

 ley (Jap., Shirabisd). Both of these are large forest trees 

 in the north, and are desirable evergreens. The bluish foliage 

 of the latter, with two narrow white lines on the under side of 

 the needles, renders it especially ornamental. They would be 

 hardy anywhere in the United States. Other species might 

 be mentioned, as A. Mariesii, Masters ; A. Jesoensis, S. and 

 Z ; A. Sachaliensis, Masters ; A. Tsi/ga, S. and Z. 



''A couple of magnolias should be mentioned as of special 

 merit, viz : Magnolia hypoleuca, S. and Z., Jap., Ho-7io-ki \ and 

 Magnolia Kobus, D. C, Jap., Koboshi. Both of them grow 

 in the northern island, and would be perfectly hardy in Amer- 

 ica. The first named, especially, is a magnificent tree. It is 

 of rapid growth and attains a height of 75 feet or more, and 

 the trunk a thickness of two feet. The leaves are obovate, often 

 a foot or more in length, shining bright green and arranged in 

 a close rosette around the flowers on the tips of the branches. 

 It blooms in June, when the strong fragrance of the flowers is 

 carried long distances by the wind. The flowers are some 

 nine inches in diameter, white, with flesh}^ petals. The fruit 

 is a cone-shaped pod, with red seed. Good judges pronounce 

 it equal in beauty to our Magnolia grandiflora, and it has the 

 great advantage of being hardy in the north. I confidently 

 predict that it will meet with general favor as soon as it be- 

 comes known here. The wood also has its merits ; it is fine 



