THE CYPRESS SUB-FAMILY. 06 1 



Tliis fine plant (for there is but one species) is from 

 China and Japan. The name is derived from " kruptoa" 

 hidden, and "meris" a part. It has soft, white wood, 

 and is especially adapted for cabinet-makers' work. 



C, Japonica, Don. JAP AX CEDAR. Leaves, from to 

 ^ of an inch in length, sessile, smooth, falcate, quadrangu- 

 lar, sharp-pointed, bright green color. Branches, spread- 

 ing, mostly .horizontal, with numerous branchlets. Cones, 

 % to f of an inch in diameter, globular, mostly clustered, 

 erect, sessile ; with numerous, loose scales. Seeds, gener- 

 ally obovate, with a dry, brittle testa. 



This tree belongs to the uncertain class of Conifers so 

 perplexing and unsatisfactory throughout the Middle 

 States. When a tree dies outright from the effect of our 

 severe winters, our regret is allayed by a consciousness 

 that it is useless to plant it. Not so, however, with many 

 of the class of which the Cryptorneria is a fair represent- 

 ative. We have frequently seen specimens thrive appar- 

 ently with perfect success for a few years, when perhaps 

 an unusually strong and imperfectly ripened growth would 

 be overtaken by the frosts of autumn, and the tree conse- 

 quently be disfigured beyond all redemption. Or proba- 

 bly the leading shoot alone is injured, and the zealous 

 owner after encouraging a new upright branch, congratu- 

 lates himself that the plant is now acclimated and all 

 danger past ; but if the mercury falls to zero after a warm 

 spell of weather, the new shoot follows in the way of its 

 predecessor. 



Such disappointments as these are of no rare occurrence, 

 but almost every cultivator has experienced them. Fre- 

 quently throughout our work have we called attention to 

 the only remedy, of sandy subsoils and an unstimulating 

 surface soil, to grow these plants with any chance of suc- 

 cess ; and if this oft-repeated caution be disregarded in 

 the cultivation of the Japan Cedar, failure will certainly 

 ensue. 



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