CONIFERS 



combination with deciduous trees or in clumps, by them- 

 selves or in single specimens, offer striking effects. 



There are two types of natural or native beauty in the 

 Conifers — the symmetrical and verdurous beauty of the 

 young specimen (Figs. 530, 531 ; Fig. 1, p. 1), and the 

 picturesque and rugged beauty of the old and time- 

 worn tree (Figs. 532. 533). Aside from these, there are 

 also odd, grotesque and formal cultivated varieties, 

 as typified in the weeping spruce (Fig. 534), the colum- 

 nar junipers (Fig. 535), and the various dwarf pines and 

 spruces (Fig. 53C). 



The majority of the species belonging to this group, 

 as well as their greatest numerical development, is 

 found in the temperate zones, only a few belonging to 

 subtropical or tropical countries, among which are the 

 Araucarias, from South America; the Dammara, Dacryd- 

 ium, and Phylloeladus, from Australia, etc. 



The order Coniferae comprises nearly 40 genera, and 

 about 300 species. Our own native tiora, with 15 genera 

 and not less than 100 species and subspecies, is among 

 the richest, the bulk of these being found on the 

 Pacific coast. The Atlantic side offers 28 species, repre- 

 senting the genus Pinus with 12 species out of 39; 1 

 Larix out of 3; 3 Piceas out of 7; 2 Tsugas out of 5; 2 

 Abies out of 12; 1 Taxodium; 1 Thuja out of 2; 1 

 Cham^eyparis out of 3 ; 3 Juniperus out of 11 ; 1 Tumion 

 (Torreya) out of 2; 1 arborescent Taxus out of 2 : being 

 without representatives of the genus Pseudotsuga, Se- 

 quoia, Libocedrus, and Cupressus. There are to be 

 added a large number (not less than 400) of nursery- 

 men's varieties, which have been enumerated in Bull. 

 17 of the Division of Forestry, U. S. Dept. of Agricul- 

 ture. 



There are also a number of exotic Conifers which 

 promise satisfactory results if used in suitable locali- 

 ties, climate and soil. The Norway Spruce (Picea ex- 

 celsa) recommends itself by its cliijant gothic form, 

 often with pendulous bruu.lilit-, its m ry rapid growth, 

 and its wide adaptation t.. soils and rlimates, together 

 with its ease of propagatiMii ami ./hcapuess. It excels 

 in form and rapidity of growth most of the American 

 spruces. Like all Conifers, after the 25th to 40th year it 

 must pass through a period of change in form, during 

 which it loses, for a time, its shapeliness. The Scotch 

 Pine (Plnus sylvestris) has nothing to recommend it 

 which may not be found in native species, except, per- 

 haps, adaptation to the dry climate of the west, and 

 cheapness. The Austrian Pine, on the other hand, is an 



acquisition by its stout growth in its youth, although the 

 Red Pine (Pin us resinosa) would probably do as" well; 

 so far, its small cones and seed have made the latter ex- 

 pensive. The European Larch outgrows the native nor- 

 thern one easily, but Larix occidentalis, tromthe interior 



basin, will probably do as well or better. There is no 

 particular commendation for the Europe Fir, but the 

 Nordmann Fir, from the Caucasus, is a most decided 

 , by its beauty and adaptation; so is the most 



iceful 



of 



Phi 



sprue 



talis, while the Span- 

 ish Abies Pi„';„p, 

 will always attract it 

 tention by its pecu 

 liar shape and foliage 

 Of other ornamen 

 tal forms which art 

 without represent i 

 tives mtheU S and 

 hence fill ^acancle 

 maybe mentioned as 

 capable of adapt i 

 tion and more or 

 less in use from 

 South America the 

 Araucariis from 

 Africa and Ea ttrii 

 Asia r t P 



ilea All ill 



Korea the ji mi 

 mg 



haged White Pim / 

 Kotaien i tr i 



China Cunniu^ 

 hamia Buta (jh i 

 tostrobus Ceph il 

 taxus Podocaiju 

 Pseudolarix an 1 

 above all that inter 

 esting remnant i 

 former ages thi 

 Maidenhair tree 



good sp 



Gingko fti^ofta, which 

 will maintain itself anywhere along the Atlantic coast if 

 propagated from seed of the proper localities. Japan 

 has furnished a number of additions, especially Reti- 

 nosporas, Torreyas, Taxus, various Pinus, Piceas and 

 Tsugas, with the peculiar Sciadopitys verticillala, the 

 Umbrella Pine, and, the most acceptable of all, the 

 graceful Gryptomeria Japonica. 



As with all introductions from one country to another, 



I 111 one climatic region to another caution is ad 



it maj be laid down as a rule thit exotics 



used with great discretion and until their 



u IS amply demonstrated only in a subordinate 



I I It it 1 m giiiirxl true that perennial plants 



11 ill n ui I 1 lilt 1 with permanent success into 



mill 1 Inn ifi uliti II It must be especially true 



mth til lilt 1 will h (1j not lose their foliage and 

 h 11 mil tl il 1 t 1 It summer as well as winter con 

 ihtK 11 The L ng k it Pme of the south most striking 



f our pmes mi^ therefoie not be transplanted far be 

 >ond it northtrn limit and if we desire to utilize any 

 of the Pacihc coast species m the east we will have to 

 secure them at least from the highest and driest alti 

 tudes and exposures or if as m the case of some spe 

 cies like the Douglas Fir ind Engclmann Spruce their 

 field of distribution om i s the dry slopes of the Rocky 

 mountain i 11 i tli moist slopes of the coast 



ranges w i tul if we choose our plant 



maternl ti I j.es 



Of th 1 IS we may discaid a num 



adaptation to sril or other inti i t 1 ir e k h climatic 

 region the choice must be different hence it would be 

 impossible to give in the brief space of an article in 

 telligent advice as to best selections. In general, be- 

 sides climatic limitations, the following considerations 

 may serve in the choice of native species. The pines, 

 as a rule, are not to be placed on compact, clay soil, and, 

 of their taproot, not on shallow soils, on 



