TREES FOR THE ROCK GARDEN 129 



period of rest. A specimen Holly or, in exceptionally 

 mild climates, a tall bush, from 8 to 10 feet high, 

 of Pittosporum undulatum, one of the most beautiful 

 of New Zealand evergreen trees, may be so placed, 

 for example, as to be exceedingly pictorial ; but, as 

 a rule, we must keep our shrubs to an average 

 maximum height of not more than from 4 to 5 feet, 

 and, generally speaking, those of still lower stature 

 are better suited to the ordinary Rock Garden. 



Some of the small-growing Conifers, from their 

 compact habit and distinct character, are especially 

 well fitted to break the outline and to give contrast. 

 We think of Pines and Spruce Firs and Cedars as 

 majestic trees, and it is only when one comes to 

 study them in their manifold varieties that we find 

 how many of these range from a height of only a 

 few inches to 3 feet, or at most to 4 feet. 



Some species, it is true, do not lend themselves 

 gracefully to the dwarfing process, becoming clumpy 

 and inelegant, but this charge cannot be brought 

 against many of the Cypresses and Junipers. Several 

 of the smaller Conifers, besides, give the advantage 

 of distinct variations of colour with the changing 

 seasons. Reference is not now made to the golden 

 and silver forms, so-called, which occur in most of 

 the genera, and put on their brightest tints in spring, 

 but to the deeper winter colouring assumed, e.g. by 

 Cupressus thyoides ( = Retinospora ericoides), which alters 

 its summer tone of dark green to purple brown on 

 the approach of cold weather ; or by Cryptomeria 

 elegansj a little less hardy, which changes to a fine 



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