272 A MANUAL OF THE CONIFEEJ5. 



pea. The resinous odour common' throughout the Junipers is more 

 concentrated in the galbuli than in any other part of the tree. 



The economic properties of the Junipers are not very numerous, 

 and they are restricted to a few of the species, and applied to still 

 fewer purposes. The wood is light, fragrant, and of a reddish-brown 

 colour, and that of one or two American species (Juniperus Virginiana 

 and J. Bermudiana) sufficiently close grained to be employed in the 

 manufacture of " Cedar pencils." The berries of the Savin are used 

 as a diuretic in medicine ; and those of the common Juniper in large 

 quantities for flavouring gin. 



As the species and varieties are numerous, and show considerable 

 differences in some of their characteristics, the Junipers may be 

 divided into sections, chiefly-in reference to the form of the leaves 

 and fruit ; each section also possesses tolerably well marked 

 characters in habit and aspect, and the division of the genus, 

 therefore, is not without its advantage in the practical operations 

 of planting. The sections are three : — 



I. — Oxyeedri, in which the leaves are generally in threes, acicular or 

 subulate, sharp pointed, glaucous above, green beneath ; berries ovate- 

 globular, of various colours, purple predominating. The hardy species 

 in this section are all bushy shrubs or low trees, rarely exceeding 20 

 feet in height. The common Juniper (Juniper communis), may be 

 conveniently taken as the type of this section. 



II. — Bdbinice, in which the leaves are generally closely appressed to 

 the stem, variable in form, but in most species very small, scaly, and 

 imbricated. Berries small, globular, or egg-shaped. Many of the kinds 

 in this section are dwarf or prostrate shrubs, of these the common 

 Savin (Juniper Sabina) will serve as the type. Others are low trees, 

 with the Savin type of foliage or some modification of it. 



III. — OupressoidecL'. In this section some of the characters of each 

 of the preceding are combined. The foliage is frequently dimorphous, 

 the acicular form prevailing in the young plants, which is gradually 

 succeeded by the scale-like form as it increases in age ; berries 

 elongated, egg-shaped, or globular, either quite smooth or covered with 

 a glaucous bloom. All the kinds in this section useful for British 

 gardens are Cypress -like trees, and of these the Chinese Juniper 

 (Juniperus chinensis) may be taken as the type. 



Juniperus, the Latin name of the Juniper, which appears to have 

 been applied indiscriminately to any of the species common in 

 southern and central Europe. 



