148 The New Conifers, 



THE NEW CONIFERS. 



Having paid some attention to the cultivation and acclimatizing of 

 many of the new conifers, I am induced to offer you a few remarks, the 

 results of my observation, which I trust may be of service to those who 

 may contemplate ornamenting their grounds with this beautiful class of 

 trees, and possibly jDrove of interest to yovir readers generally. Mr. Sar- 

 gent, who had probably the most extensive collection of evergreens of any 

 amateur in this country, gave us, in his new edition of Downing's " Land- 

 scape Gardening," the benefit of his valuable experience up to that time ; 

 but seven or eight years have since elapsed, affording us the advantage of 

 so much more time for further observation as to the merits of the trees 

 then in cultivation, and to test, to some extent, several of the Japanese 

 plants more recently introduced into the country, a larger proportion of 

 which, I am glad to say, from present indications, are likely to prove adapted 

 to our severe climate. 



Amongst the most prominent Spruces and Firs, I have had the opportu- 

 nity of veiy thoroughly testing the following : Picea nobilis, Nordmannianay 

 grandis,pic/ita, Cephalonka, nwd pinsapo ; and, with proper treatment, I can 

 recommend them with much confidence for general cultivation in this 

 vicinity, except, perhaps, in very exposed situations, or near the seashore. 

 Their progress for some time after transplanting is generally slow, and 

 somewhat discouraging, — the same as I have found to be the case with the 

 European Silver Fir ; but, when once well established, their growth is more 

 satisfactory, and quite vigorous with the No?'dma?itiiajm and gra/idis. These 

 six are all veiy distinct varieties ; magnificent trees, of great size in their 

 native soil, growing, in the case of the grandis, according to Gordon, to 

 the enormous height of two hundred and eighty-five feet ; are all worthy 

 companions of the stately Norway, so justly popular with all planters ; and, 

 one of these days, they will no doubt be considered indispensable in every 

 ornamental place of any pretension. The nohilis is a superb tree, growing 

 two hundred feet high, forming vast forests in Northern California, with regu- 

 lar horizontal branches, resembling, when of great age, it is thought by some, 

 the Cedar of Lebanon more than any other tree we can cultivate in this 



