CONIFERS AND PINES 117 



nothing more than forms, " states " the botanists 

 term them, assumed by various species of Thuya 

 and Cupressus. Strictly speaking, Retinospora has 

 no separate existence as a genus. This, however, 

 is a botanical phase of the matter. Horticulturally 

 we are more concerned with such variations as 

 adapt the plants to various garden purposes. Many 

 quaint and dainty forms of large trees are very 

 suitable for the rock-garden in association with other 

 alpine plants. The Common Spruce, for instance, 

 has given birth to many pigmy forms. The Yew, 

 the Scotch Pine, and various others have " sported " 

 in a similar way. But no hardy tree varies so 

 much, perhaps, as the Lawson Cypress when raised 

 from seed. The species has assumed almost every 

 shade of colour that Conifers do assume, and every 

 form of growth. Beautiful golden, variegated, pen- 

 dulous, and erect varieties have been raised, and not 

 only from the Lawson Cypress, but from many other 

 Conifers also. The Golden Yews, the yellow form 

 of the Monterey Cypress, and the golden variety of 

 the Scotch Pine, may be recommended to those who 

 require this colour, although in the Pine it only shows 

 itself in winter. The blue-white or glaucous hue 

 that is more or less present in most Conifers, shows 

 itself most conspicuously in the Blue Spruce (Picea 

 pungens glaucd), in Cedrus atlantica glauca, in the 

 new Cork Fir from Arizona (Abies lasiocarpa var. 

 arizonica), and in Abies concolor violacea. 



