210 CUPRESSUS LUSITANICA. 



of its height when it diminishes rapidly in girth and often becomes 

 tortuous; the brandies are few, irregularly disposed, sparingly ramified 

 and furnished Avith a scanty foliage only at the extremities.* 



For British gardens, Cupressus Lau'soniana possesses almost every 

 quality that renders a coniferous tree valuable. As an ornamental tree 

 it is one of the handsomest. It is perfectly hardy ; the severest winters 

 that have occurred since its introduction have scarcely affected it. It 

 thrives in almost every description of soil, wet and cold peat alone being 

 unfavourable for it. It is remarkably prolific, bearing seed in abundance 

 even in its young state, Avhich quickly germinates and thus it may be 

 propagated with great rapidity. It is polymorphous, giving rise to 

 varieties so distinct from the normal form, and so varied in habit and 

 outline, that several of them are justly ranked among the best of 

 subjects for the geometrical or formal flower garden, both in summer and 

 winter. It may be used for almost every purpose for which Conifers are 

 planted as a single specimen for the lawn or park, in groups of its own 

 kind, or intermixed with other trees or shrubs, for evergreen hedges, or 

 as a funereal or cemetery tree. It grows freely, forming a stout trunk 

 in a comparatively short period, a circumstance together with the known 

 excellence of its timber, highly suggestive of its use for forestry purposes 

 in many places. 



The wood of Cupressus Lawsoniana is light, hard, strong and very 

 close-grained, abounding in fragrant resin, very durable in contact with 

 the soil, easily worked and susceptible of receiving a beautiful polish. 

 It is much used in indoor joinery, flooring, fence- posts, ship and boat 

 building, etc.f From an economic standpoint the Port Orford (Lawson's) 

 Cypress is one of the most important timber trees of North America. 

 The species was named in compliment to the late Mr. Charles Lawson 

 of Edinburgh. 



CHARLES LAWSOX (17941873) was the son of Peter Lawson, the founder of the seed 

 and nursery firm of Peter Lawson and Son that became well known not only in 

 Scotland but throughout the world. In 1821 lie succeeded his father in the sole 

 management of the business, and the energy and intelligence which lie brought to bear 

 on its affairs soon placed the firm in a prominent position. In 1833 he introduced 

 the Italian Rye-grass, two years later the Austrian Pine, and in 1854 the Cypress 

 that bears his name. Agriculturists are indebted to him for the " Agrostographia or 

 Book of Grasses" Avhich passed through many editions, and for the "Agriculturist's 

 Manual," also a work of great usefulness. He originated the "Pinetum Britannicum," 

 an elaborate and costly folio devoted to the description and illustration of the hardy 

 coniferous trees cultivated in Great Britain which after many interruptions and under 

 different editors was brought to an end in 1884. He withdrew from active par- 

 ticipation in the business of his firm in 1850 and afterwards took a leading share in 

 the public affairs of his native city, Edinburgh, of which he became Lord Provost in 

 1862. His latter years were clouded with misfortune owing to the ill success that 

 attended the management of his firm after his withdrawal and which in 1873 was 

 handed over to a limited liability company. The Garden, XI. (1877). 



Cupressus lusitanica. 



A medium-sized tree 40 50 feet high, in places considerably 

 more, of variable habit, sometimes sub-pyramidal in outline, sometimes 

 Avith a dense broadly conical or umbrella-like croAvn, and many inter- 

 mediate forms. Primary branches irregularly disposed, close-set or 

 distant, spreading, sub-pendulous or ascending, covered with reddish 

 broAvn bark and much ramified at the distal end. Branchlets with 



* Mayr, Waldungen von Nordamerika, 317. f Silva of North America, loc. cit. 



i 



