ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 495 



drooping branchlets and rich, grass-green leaves. C. n. httea, 

 the golden-leaved form (Fig. 315), is vigorous and graceful. It 

 is an excellent subject for planting on the edge of the lawn, as 

 its character is constant, even when placed in partial shade, but 

 it delights in full exposure. 



C. obtusa {Retinospora obtusfl, Thuya obtusd). — This is a tall- 

 growing tree, reaching a height of about 100ft. in Japan (its 

 native home). In this country it forms a pleasing pyramidal 

 tree of moderate growth, and is excellent for ornamental planting. 

 The numerous spreading branches, with elegant frond-like 

 branchlets, are furnished with light shining green leaves. This 

 species succeeds best in a moist soil, and prefers shelter from 

 cold, piercing winds. C. o. aurea is of similar habit to the type, 

 with golden-yellow foliage, and is very striking in the winter 

 months. C. 0. compacta is a beautiful form, of dense habit, and 

 quite distinct ; useful for lawns. C. o. erecta viridis also makes 

 a capital lawn shrub. It is compact in habit, dwarf, and very 

 attractive in winter. C. 0. filifera is a particularly graceful 

 variety, thoroughly hardy, and of good growth, even in poor 

 soils. It is of bushy habit, with long thread-like growths of a 

 rich green colour ; a choice lawn Conifer. C. o. gracilis 

 aurea is a handsome golden-leaved Conifer of pyramidal outline, 

 with slender, spreading branches, and elegant drooping branch- 

 lets. The colour of its leaves is soft yellow, which with age 

 gradually gives place to soft green. C. 0. pygmcea should have 

 a place in the rock garden. It grows about ift. high, and is 

 a distinct and cheerful-looking little Coniler. 



C. pisifera {Retinospora pisifera, Thuya pisifera), introduced 

 from Japan at the same time as C. obtusa, grows freely, forming 

 a handsome specimen, with open, spreading branches and feathery 

 light green foliage. C. p. albo-picta differs from the type in the 

 young branchlets and leaves being speckled with white, which gives 

 it a distinct and pleasing appearance. C. p. nana aurea makes a 

 good rock-garden shrub, as it is rather too slow in growth for 

 the ordinary shrubbery border. It forms a neat bush, and if 

 planted in full sunlight its rich golden colour shows up well 

 during the winter. C. p. plumosa is a splendid tree, well adapted 

 for lawns and park decoration. It is of compact pyramidal 

 habit, and free in growth, with plume-like branches and rich 

 green leaves. This kind bears hard pruning well, and is 

 beautiful for winter bedding. C. p. p. argentea deserves special 

 mention. It is very distinct and of graceful habit, and the young 

 growths and foliage are marked' with cream-white; the variega- 

 tion is constant. C. p. p. aurea, a yellow-leaved kind, is much 

 valued for ornamental planting, and is a grand tree for the lawn 

 3"d useful for winter bedding; a rich, moist, well-drained soil 

 suits it best, and it should be planted in a sunny position to 

 bring out the full beauty of its foliage. C. p. squarrosa 



