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importance. Specimens of the European larch are here, 
and also of the Japanese larch. The genus Pseudolarix, 
distinguished from the larches in having the scales of the 
cones decidous, is represented by its single species, the 
golden or Chinese larch; this, like the true larches, is a 
deciduous tree. 
The yew family (Taxaceae) is represented by three 
genera. Of the true yews (Taxus) there are: the American 
yew, or ground hemlock; the English yew and several of its 
horticultural varieties, the wood of which was highly 
prized in ancient times for the manufacture of bows; and 
the Japanese yew. The last is by far the best for this 
climate, standing well the dry summers and cold winters; 
there is a dwarf form of this known as variety nana, which 
is an especially desirable evergreen for decorative planting. 
The cluster-flowered yew (Cephalotaxus) is represented by 
the Japanese species and one other from Corea. The 
Japanese Torreya (Tumion nuciferum) represents this genus. 
Another species, Tumion taxifolium, of Florida, is not 
hardy in our climate; small plants of it will be found in 
house 12, conservatory range I. Still other representatives 
of the yew family are in houses 12 and 13 of conservatory 
range I. 
To the north of the economic garden will be found speci- 
mens of the umbrella pine, not a true pine, however, but 
belonging to the genus Sciadopitys, a native of Japan. 
Another tree here is the Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria 
japonica, with several horticultural varieties. This will 
stand our winter climate only in sheltered situations such 
as this; the forms of the variety Lobbii are more hardy and 
are thenetore better suited to this climate. There is also 
here a small specimen of the big tree of California, Seguioa 
Washingtoniana. This climate is most uncongenial to 
this noble plant which in its native country, the western 
slopes of the Sierra Nevadas, attains a height sometimes of 
over 300 feet. 
On the westerly corner of the conservatory terrace and in 
