ADAPTATION OF CONIFERS 75 



Juniperus conferta, introduced by Wilson from Japan in 

 1915, is a littoral species and forms dense mats on sandy shores. 

 The deep green leaves are densely crowded, straight, and 

 pale green beneath. It shows a tendency to be tender. 



Torreya. 



Torreya nucifera is a very distinct yew-like plant from Japan. 

 There are several species of Torreya but nucifera is the only 

 one fairly hardy at Rochester, New York, and it must be 

 planted in a situation well protected from the sweep of cold 

 winds. The habit is spreading and bushy, and the two-ranked, 

 deep green, lance-shaped leaves are very ornamental. 



Yews. 



The Japanese yew, Taxus cuspidata, is the most important 

 foreign evergreen ever introduced to this country. The rich 

 dark green foliage, which is maintained without loss of color 

 throughout the entire year, renders it a valuable acquisition 

 for gardens and parks. It was introduced in 1862 and has, 

 therefore, been a sufficient time in cultivation to warrant an 

 opinion on its merits. It passes through the severest winters 

 without injury. Fortunately, the Japanese yew is now propa- 

 gated in many American nurseries and is becoming well 

 known in many gardens. The seedlings show much variation, 

 some having a distinctly arborescent habit, that is, growing to 

 one tree-like stem, which may be encouraged by a little pruning 

 of the side branches to develop the tree habit. Most of the 

 seedlings grow into various bush-like forms with wide-spreading 

 branches, and others seem inclined to form low bushy pyramids. 



The form of the Japanese yew commonly seen in parks and 

 gardens is a spreading bush with its branches horizontal and 

 ascending at the ends, fifteen to twenty feet across and five 

 to six feet high. It has been known as hrevifolia but is now 



