226 FOREST TREES. 
green hue of its foliage well during the winter, and 
is esteemed for ornamental hedges. There can be 
little doubt that it is, as Hoopes asserts, a variety of 
the American Arbor Vite. Plants closely resembling 
it occur not unfrequently among seedlings of that 
species. There is no reason to believe that it ever 
grew in the country whose name it bears. 
Var. plicata (Nee’s Arbor Vite) is a variety from 
the Pacific coast. It is quite distinct and handsome, 
with twisted branches; but is as yet much less com- 
‘mon in cultivation than the preceding. It is quite 
hardy. 
Var. ericoides (Heath-leaved Arbor Vite) was 
introduced from Europe not many years since. It is 
a pretty shrub, with heath-like leaves of a dark- 
bluish green color, but often becoming brown in 
winter. 
Thuja gigantea (Gigantic Arbor Vite) is a species 
of immense size from Oregon. It has not generally 
succeeded well in the Northern or Middle States. 
Biota orientalis (Chinese Arbor Vite). I have 
found the cultivation of this and its most hardy 
varieties wholly unsatisfactory in Northern Illinois. 
Where it succeeds it is far inferior to the American 
species for ornament, and is of no value for any other 
purpose. 
Retinospora obtusa (Japanese Arbor Vite) is a 
beautiful tree, somewhat resembling the American 
Arbor Vite, but with more delicate and graceful 
foliage. For several years it has withstood the winters 
of Northern Illinois in a partially sheltered situation, 
