THE CYPRESS SUB-FAMILY. 291 



Our own experience with this tree, some years since, 

 Avas so discouraging that Ave discontinued its cultiA r ation, 

 but Ave are pleased to learn it is succeeding Avell Avith some 

 cultiA r aters on the Hudson River, in New York. Possibly 

 our own plants may not haA T e been correct, although they 

 answered to the descriptions in English works. 



17, J, Virginia it a. Linnaeus. RED CEDAR. Leaves, 

 very small, scale-like on the adult branches, but larger, 

 awl-shaped or subulate, and spreading, on the young shoots, 

 A'ery numerous, closely imbricated, and dark green color. 

 Branches, mostly horizontal, with thin, scaling bark. 

 Fruit, small, dark-purple, numerous, and covered Avith a 

 fine glaucous blooni. 



This valuable native species is found from the Gulf of 

 Mexico to our northern boundary along the lakes ; it great- 

 ly prefers a mild climate, and is, in consequence, much 

 more rare and smaller in size to the northward. At the 

 extreme South, it does not assume its finest appearance, 

 excepting along the coast. 



The Red Cedar, in suitable locations, will grow to the 

 height of 30 or 40 feet, and is generally admired for its 

 very dark color and dense habit of growth. In this latter 

 particular, however, as Avell as in its general outline, per- 

 haps no species is so variable. "We have often noticed a 

 natural grove, consisting of at least one hundred trees, in 

 which there are not two specimens exactly alike in every 

 particular. Occasionally they shoot up like tall, dark 

 green columns, and again others form a regular, conical 

 head. More rarely, trees are noticed with drooping branches 

 or a spreading top, not unlike an ancient Cedar of Lebanon. 

 The great diversity presented by this species is useful in 

 landscape gardening, as groups composed of a variety of 

 forms are invariably admired. Upon arriving at old age, 

 the Red Cedar mostly becomes very picturesque in ap- 

 pearance, and even the formal character, that is so peculiar 

 in some A'arieties, is lost in the change that usually occurs. 



