36 THE BOOK OF EVERGKEEXS. 



pie, requires more heat, and our best propagators very 

 frequently lose a large proportion of their cuttings. The 

 Thuiopsis strikes quite readily. The Cypress, Japan Cedar 

 {Oryptomeria,) Mammoth Tree (Sequoia,) and Libo- 

 cedrus, are quite uncertain, some seasons giving us a few 

 young plants, but more frequently failing badly. 



In the Taxinece, or drupaceous-fruited Conifers, the 

 propagator has a wide and interesting field for experiment, 

 as they can all be grown from cuttings with varying suc- 

 cess. The Yews, (2^axus,) are grown, if given reasonable 

 care, with possibly one exception, the Taxus adpressa. 

 The Torreya, Cephalotaxus, Dacridium, and Podocarpus, 

 are rather more easily rooted ; and the Salisburia, (a de- 

 ciduous-leaved genus,) may be increased with profit if 

 sufficient care be exercised. In every genus, however, 

 there are always some species more tractable than others, 

 although depending in a great measure on the state of the 

 atmosphere where they are grown, the requisite amount 

 of heat, humidity, etc. This can only be ascertained by 

 trial, as it varies according to circumstances. 



As a rule, all plants having variegated leaves are diffi- 

 cult to manage; for, whilst the Siberian Arbor Vitas roots 

 by mere contact with warm and moist earth, the vai'ie- 

 gated-leaved varieties with the best of care rarely ever 

 succeed. To this statement, however, we find one excep- 

 tion, as the variegated Yews form roots much sooner, and 

 with less attention, than any others of the sub-order 

 Taxinece. So also we find in the same immediate genus 

 a curious problem to solve. The Abies Menziesii roots 

 very easily, and the A. Doiiylasii and A. Canadensis 

 act just the reverse. The Biota Orientalis is not very 

 difficult to propagate, but its variety, pendula, is most 

 certain to " damp off" and die. The Irish Juniper is 

 quite easy to manage, and yet the Chinese species will 

 scarcely ever succeed under the best of treatment. Picea 

 Fraseri is exceedingly sensitive of the moist sand, but its 



