284 A MANUAL Oj? THE CONlfEKiE. 



and was much used by the earlier colonists and settlers for water 

 shoots, stakes, and under ground work.* But the tree does not in 

 general attain a sufficient size to yield planks of more than a few 

 inches in breadth and thickness, which has proved an impediment to 

 its more extensive use for constructive purposes. The chief use made 

 of the wood in England is in the manufacture of " Cedar pencils," 

 but even for this purpose the wood of the Bermuda Juniper has 

 hitherto been preferred, but which is now becoming too scarce to supply 

 the demand. The average growth of the Eed Cedar in England is 

 not more than from 12 to 15 feet in ten years, and the tree does 

 not often attain a timber-like size, except in deep and rich soils that 

 could be far more profitably cropped by other vegetation, so that it 

 cannot' be recommended for planting in this country for the sake of 

 its timber. As an ornamental tree for the shrubbery its qualities are 

 well known, and these are even more manifest in some of the varieties 

 into which it has sported under cultivation. 

 Among the most distinct are the following : — 



Juniperus virginiana aurea-variegata.— In this variety many of 

 the terminal and lateral branchlets are deep yellow; the variega- 

 tion is, however, very unequally distributed, being in some places 

 the entire branchlets, in others a mere spot. 



Juniperus virginiana Bedfordiana is a very handsome variety, 

 with longer and more slender branches, and with foliage of a brighter 

 green than in the common form. The ultimate branchlets are fili- 

 form and pendulous. 



The origin of this beautiful variety is not certainly known. Mr. 

 Gordon (Pinetum, p. 156), states that it is a native of Barbadoes and 

 other West Indian Islands, but quotes no authority in support of the 

 statement. It was extensively distributed by Messrs. Loddiges, under 

 the name of Juniperus gossainthanianci,, thereby indicating a Himalayan 

 origin, which is accepted by M. Carriere (Traite, p. 45), but rejected by 

 Professor Parlatore, who considered it to be a garden variety only. 



Juniperus virginiana dumosa. — A dwarf variety, with a rounded 

 top, and foliage of bright green during the growing season. The 

 leaves are for the most part acicular, either opposite or in threes, 

 others are scale-like and closely imbricated. 



Juniperus virginiana glauca. — The Silver Juniper of gardens. 



* Loudon, Arb. et Fruit, p. 2497, ex. Michanx. 



