outline, and balsamic odor, have no doubt contributed to the symbolism 

 which Spencer summed up by describing it as "the Cypresse funerall." 



Cypress is an extremely long-lived tree. Two cypresses planted by 

 Michael Angelo are still living in Rome. In Lombardy is a cypress tree 

 supposed to have been planted in the year of the birth of Christ. It is over 1 20 

 feet in height, and twenty-three feet in circumference. In addition to the 

 interest which arises from its great age and size, this tree has the distinction 

 of being wounded by Francis I, who is said to have stuck his sword into it 

 in despair after his defeat at Pavia. It is said that Napoleon so respected this 

 tree that he deflected his road over the Simplort in order to avoid injuring it. 



The cypresses are tall or medium-sized trees with erect growth as a rule. 

 The cones are globular in shape and when mature are about an inch in diame- 

 ter The branches subdivide to form flat sprays which are closely covered 

 with small overlapping leaves in four rows There is a curious Mohammedan 

 superstition, existent among the natives of Ceylon, that he who eats a cypress 

 leaf when it chances to fall to the ground, has his youth restored to him. 

 Whittier depicts venerable saints as sitting patiently under the cypress trees 

 of Ceylon waiting the falling of this much prized leaf. 



Monterey Cypress 



Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) grows naturally only in a 

 restricted locality near Monterey Bay on the California coast. It is widely 

 planted throughout the state, its dense foliage making it especially valuable 

 for windbreaks and hedges. 



Italian Cypress 



The Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is a tapering, cone-like tree 

 with a short stem below its branches, which gives it much the appearance of 

 Lombardy poplar. Mature trees reach a height of about seventy-five feet. Its 

 columnar form gives it a formal effect which is much used in gardens and for 

 architectural effect. It makes splendid avenues like those of the beautiful 

 villas in Italy, but will lose its character if planted in rich soil and with plenty 

 of moisture. In such cases its lateral branches spread out under the over- 

 weight of foliage. 



The Italian cypress is very successful in architectural schemes as evi- 

 denced by its use at the Villa Borghese in Rome. Professor Neuhaus states 



(24) 



