ACCLIMATIZATION, ETC. 285 



than those of our well-known forest trees. They are well worth 

 cultivating, and may be introduced to supply gaps in the qualities 

 of our woods. (See also pp. 234-241.) 



Cryptomeria japonica, Don., and Sciadopitys verticillata, S. and Z., 

 which thrive out of doors only in a specially favourable part of 

 the Rhine district between Basel and Diisseldorf, are much more 

 sensitive to our German winters. We could not expect to make 

 their cultivation a source of wood supply, even if it were especi- 

 ally desirable. In Marburg some attempts made with the two 

 most common Japanese pines {Piniis Massoniana and P. dentiflora^ 

 showed that their development here is very slow, and that they 

 cannot endure more than 20° C. of cold. The idea of planting the 

 exceedingly useful black pines {A. Massoniana) on the North 

 German sand dunes seems to promise no very favourable results.^ 



Of the deciduous trees which recommend themselves partly on 

 account of their valuable wood, and partly because of their beauti- 

 ful foliage, the following seem best adapted to cultivation in 

 Europe : — Zelkowa Keaki, S. and Z. (Keaki), Magnolia hypoleuca, 

 S. and Z. (H6-no-ki), CercidipJiyllum japonicitm^ S. and Z. (Katsura), 

 Acer cratcEgifolitun, S. and Z. (Hana-no-ki), jlisculos twbinata, 

 Blume (Tochi), They grow in the rough atmosphere of the moun- 

 tains and northern portions of Japan, and justify the belief that 

 they may be, at least in part, acclimatized in Germany. 



There remain still to be noticed a number of Japanese plants in 

 the gardens and public parks of the countries along the Mediterra- 

 nean Sea. 



There is no lack of warmth and light in this region, but moisture, 

 a third important element in prosperous plant-life, is often wanting. 

 When this is the case, there can be no fine sward cultivation with 

 our known grasses, and various halophytic succulent plants, like 

 Mesembryanthemum, several foreign weeds like Commelina and 

 others may be used to fill up the sod. Special success has been 

 attained with a simple little Japanese XxXy, the Ja-no-hige, "serpent's 

 beard" {Ophiopogon japoniciiSy Garv.), which has been often called 

 by gardeners by the old name of Convallaria japonica (Japanese 

 lily of the valley), given it by Thunberg. The kindred Yabu-ran 

 {O. Jabiiran, Loddig) is also employed for this purpose. Even now 

 a fine green turf made in this way can be seen on the Italian lakes, 

 but still more often in Southern Italy, Spain and Portugal. I first 

 found the modest little Yano-hige, with its bluish berries, in the 

 shady places of the temple grove in Uyeno Tokio. The narrow, 

 dark-green, grass-like leaves of the plant resemble those of the 

 several lighter Gagea species. Its relationship to our lily of the 

 valley is not very close. 



North of the Alps and the Pyrenees, the quickset hedges are 



^ I expressed myself in a similar manner in a report which I had to give 

 regarding Japan Conifers, in June, 1884, to His Excellency, the Minister of 

 Agriculture and Forestry. 



