268 A MAUtTAL 01' THE CONIFE&E. 



ing a height of from 120 to 140 feet, with a trunk 6 to 7 feet 

 in diameter near the base, and free of branches for 70 to 80 feet 

 of its height.* The general form is conical, the trunk tapering, the 

 branches horizontal, with tlie extremities ascending; the branchlets 

 frondose, much divided, somewhat rigid, and with the foliage deep 

 bright green. In England the young trees are of columnar habit, 

 more or less dense, according to the soil in which they are grow- 

 ing, and well distinguished by the rich colouring of their foliage. 



Habitat. — North California and Oregon; abundant about McCumbers 

 in north California, where it attains its greatest developement. 



Introduced into Great Britain by the Scotch Oregon Association 

 in 1853, by their collector, John Jeffrey. 



According to Dr. Newberry the wood of Libocedrus decurrens is of 

 similar character and of about equal economic value as that of Thuia 

 occidentalis. As an ornamental tree for the park and lawn L. decurrens 

 is one of the best of its tribe. It is quite hardy, requires but little 

 room, and on account of its very effective aspect, it should have a 

 place in the most select collections. 



Libocedrus Doniana. — A tree from 60 to 100 feet high, with 

 spreading tortuous branches, and flattened' fern-like branchlets ; the 

 foliage more resembles that of L. chilensis than any other species, 

 but may be distinguished from it by the leaves being more closely 

 set along the branchlets, the lateral ones stouter and less pointed, 

 and by the absence of the silvery line on the under side. 



Habitat. — New Zealand, Northern Island, also on the mountain 

 slopes in the neighbourhood of Nelson, at 6,000 feet of elevation. 



Introduced about the year 1848. 



Libocedrus Doniana should only be planted in' sheltered situations, 

 even in the south of England and Ireland. In its young state, it is 

 a beautiful conservatory plant. 



Libocedrus tetragona. — A tree or shrub of variable form, 

 according to the conditions under which it is growing. On the 

 lower slopes and in the ravines of the Andes of Valdivia^ it is a 

 beautiful pyramidal tree ranging from 40 to 80 feet high ; near 

 the snow line on the Chilian Andes, as well as at its southern 

 limits, the Straits of Magellan, it is so diminished in size as to 



* A. Murray, in The Garden, vol. ii., p. 542. 



