CONE-BEARERS. 91 



once, at least, characterized the vegetable world, in the 

 eon when monsters swam the sea and giants trod the 

 earth. These few primeval trees, necessarily awe- 

 inspiring, may well appear venerable too; stalking forth 

 from the dim Past, their matchless, columnar trunks 

 crowned with well-nigh everlasting verdure, they lift 

 their shaded brows to the storm blasts of centuries 

 with the persistence and composure of olden gods, 

 while testifying to the present inhabitants of earth, 

 "We are witnesses of your generations." 



The American Cedars 



Are the everywhere recognized leaders of beautiful 

 forms in vegetable growth, and being withal usually 

 hardy, it is small wonder that no ornamental grounds 

 are considered complete without the sweet presence 

 of these lovely trees. In their native homes the 

 dense forest or chaparral thicket you would not, 

 perhaps, deem them remarkable, for they are com- 

 pelled to abridge their flowing periphery and yield 

 their trailing robes to the pressing environment of 

 ambitious neighbors, but in the protected home of ap- 

 preciative man, they expand their comely lineaments 

 and pose in lawn and park like animated statuary, 

 the queens of loveliness and beauty. 



The True Cypresses 

 Are the accommodating, self-sacrificing, shears-end ur- 



