CRYPTOMERIA JAPONIC A. 267 



tombs at Xikko where they rise to a height of 100 to 125 feet; it is 

 a stately tree which has no rival except in the Sequoias of Calif ornia." 

 The chief factor in the preservation of the Cryptomeria and its 

 luxuriant growth in Japan is unquestionably the climate which in the 

 districts where the tree attains its greatest development is decidedly 

 temperate. The annual isothermal line for 10 C. (50 F.) curves 

 below the 40th parallel where it passes through Japan in the latitude of 

 northern Hondo; and the annual isotherm for 15 C. (60 F.) curves below 

 the 35th parallel, or below the latitude of Tokio, the capital, so that the 

 average temperature of the Cryptomeria region ranges from 10 to 15 C. 

 (50 to 60 F.). In Tokio the registered annual rainfall is about 70 inches 

 with a gradual decrease northwards towards Yeso ; southwards of Tokio 

 it seldom sinks below 50 inches. These data show that the Cryptomeria 

 thrives in a climate not very dissimilar from that in which the Cali- 

 fornian Redwood attains its gigantic dimensions, and which corresponds 

 nearly to that of the south-west of Ireland, but is somewhat warmer than 

 that of Great Britain with nearly double its annual rainfall. 

 The Cryptomeria first became obscurely known to Europeans through 

 Engelbert Kaempfer, who mentions it in his " Amcenitates Exotica " 

 published in 1712.* It was next described by Thunberg in more 

 distinct terms in his " Flora japonica " under the name of Cupressus 

 japonica ; Thunberg's dried specimens were communicated to the 

 younger Linnaeus and incorporated with his herbarium which was 

 subsequently acquired by Sir J. E. Smith, the first President of the 

 Liunean Society, and afterwards became the property of the Society. 

 On these materials David Don, the Secretary of the Society, founded in 

 1839 the genus Cryptomeria which has since remained unchanged. 

 The Cryptomeria was introduced into Great Britain by the Horti- 

 cultural Society of London through their collector, Robert Fortune, who 

 sent seeds from Shanghai in China in 1844 ; the Japanese type was 

 introduced by the Veitchian firm through Charles Maries in 1879. 



The Cryptomeria has now been a denizen of the parks and gardens of 

 Great Britain for more than half a century, and although it has proved 

 to be hardy, good specimens are by no means common. Where \vell- 

 developed trees do occur, they have an elongated conical outline like 

 that of the Wellingtonia, but generally a more open aspect on account of 

 being more sparsely furnished. The Cryptomeria requires a deep, well- 

 drained soil with abundance of moisture, of which the supply is not 

 intermittent, and it must be protected from piercing winds ; in such 

 situations it develops the ornamental qualities which cause it to be so 

 highly admired in its native country. A space having a radius of not 

 less than 25 feet should be allowed for it. 



All the varieties described above are of Japanese origin with the 

 exception of Lollrii and ahie?ms. Eleyans which was introduced by the 

 late Mr. John Gould Veitch, is one of the most distinct additions to the 

 British Pinetum ever made; this is chiefly due to the remarkable change 

 in colour which the foliage and young shoots undergo in winter ; it is a 

 "juvenile" form with primordial leaves only. The illustration shows its 



* San, vulgo Sungi, Cnpresso-pinolns resinifera, fructu sphperali squamoso, pruni 

 maguitudinis ; seniinibus panels oblongis conipressis, striatis, spadiceis (p. 883.). 



