CONIFERS AND PINES 107 



Besides the Pines the finest of all Conifers is the 

 Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), which one 

 sees hardy everywhere on the coast in these islands ; 

 it grows finer than it does in its home on the 

 Pacific coast. It makes a fine front barrier against 

 the wind, especially when mixed with the foregoing 

 Pines. The variety C. lambertiana is also excellent. 

 There are two other Conifers which, though not 

 much planted by the sea-coast, will, we believe, 

 prove reliable ; these are Cedrus atlantica and Thuja 

 gigantea (sometimes called T. Lobbti). A third Conifer 

 that we have seen doing well by the sea is Abies 

 Pittsapo, but it must have a temporary shelter 

 in its small state. This subject of seaside planting — 

 the most difficult in a tree planter's practice — is an 

 important one, and it is only possible to treat the 

 matter generally. 



The Conifer family is especially noteworthy for 

 the way many of its species vary. Not only is 

 this propensity evidenced in such characters as the 

 colour of the leaf and the differences in habit ; it 

 shows itself more remarkably sometimes in the form 

 and texture of the leaf and mode of branching. 

 So great is the difference between some forms of 

 certain species of Conifers that they have been 

 placed in different genera. What are generally 

 known as Retinosporas, for instance, are really 

 nothing more than forms, " states " the botanists 

 term them, assumed by various species of Thuya 

 and Cupressus. Strictly speaking, Retinospora has 

 no separate existence as a genus. This, however. 



