360 



CASSKLL'S POPULAE GAEDENING. 



throughout Europe and North Asia. The type is 

 too well known to need description. Arrjentea and 

 aurea are two of the most remarkable of the 

 numerous varieties. 



Pseudolarix Ksempferi, the Golden Larch of 

 Northern China, is a beautiful, deciduous tree, with 

 fascicled leaves, longer and broader than those of 

 Larix europcea ; the bright golden-yeUo w assumed by 

 the foliage in autumn is not less attractive than the 

 soft light yellowish-green of the young growths in 

 spring. 



Pseudotsuga Douglasii, better known' as the 

 Douglas Fir, or Abies Boiiglasii, is one of the most 

 useful trees which have been introduced to British 

 gardens during the last century. It is ii native of 

 North-western America, and is the only species of 

 the genus. There are several varieties, but except 

 in collections of trees these are hardly worth growing. 

 In the Arboretum at Kew there is a fine spar, erected 

 as a flagstafi, which is 159 feet in height ; and fine 

 sections of the wood are to be' seen in Museum No. 3. 

 Douglas, in whose honour the species is named, and 

 who introduced the tree, thus writes of it : — " The 

 principal part of the gloomy forests of North- west 

 America, in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, and 

 throughout the interior skirting those mountains, is 

 cofaposed of this species. It attains a height of from 

 150 to 200 feet, and a circumference of from 20 to 50 

 feet." 



Sciadopitys vertioillata, the Umbrella Pine 

 of Japan, is peculiar in foliage as well as in general 

 aspect. The long, leathery, deep glossy green leaves 

 are arranged in whorls at the tips of the branches. 

 In Japan it forms a conical tree, a hundred feet in 

 height, but in Britain it grows slowly, and requires 

 a sheltered position in good soil. 



Sequoia. — There are only two species in this 

 genus, , the one being the Wellingtonia, or Big 

 Tree, and the other the Eed Wood of California. 

 S. gigantea, more familiarly known as Wellingtonia 

 gigcmtea, is the largest tree of the American forests, 

 and one of the giants of the vegetable kingdom. In 

 the " Botany of California " the following information 

 is given : — " It has an average height of 275 feet, with 

 a trunk 20 feet in diameter, the largest measurement 

 being 366 feet in height, and a diam.eter of 35 feet, 

 eight inches within the bark, at four feet above the 

 ground." There are several varieties in cultivation, 

 including one with golden variegation, and another 

 with pendulous branches. 



8. sempervirens, or, as it is often called, Taxodimn 

 sempenirens, has dark green, Yew-like leaves, and, in 



the southern parts cf this country, is a hardy,, fast- 

 growing, and very ornamental tree. " The forests of 

 this species are economically the most valuable of 

 California, but, owing to their acoessibOity to tide- 

 water, are in great danger of speedy extermination.'' 

 In its wild state the Red 'Wood usually averages eight 

 to twelve feet in diameter, and from 200 to 300 feet 

 in height. 



Taxodium. — This genus now contains but three 

 species, two of which are North American, and the 

 third Chinese; the latter is perhaps better known 

 under the generic name of Glyptoatrohus, but as it is 

 of little except botanical interest, it is not worth 

 further mention here. The only true Taxodimn in 

 cultivation is T. dlstichum, the Deciduous Cypress, of 

 which noble specimens exist in the grounds at Syon 

 House and elsewhere ; it is a handsome, deciduous 

 tree, with slender, spreading, feathery branches, and 

 light open foliage, of a soft bright green during 

 summer, and a dull red in autumn. It is a moisture- 

 loving plant, and should always be planted where its 

 roots can command an unlimited supply of water. 



Taxus {Yew). — In all probability aU the Yews — 

 some authors consider that there are six or eight dis- 

 tinct species— are merely forms of one widely distri- 

 buted and very variable species. The genus is found 

 throughout north temperate regions to the Arctic 

 circle. Typical T. baccata is found in a truly wild 

 state iu many parts of Britain. Amongst the very 

 numerous varieties which have either originated in 

 nurseries as seedlings or as branch sports, or have 

 been introduced from other countries, the following 

 are the most distinct : — Argentea only differs from the 

 type in the somewhat silvery variegation, and aurea 

 in the rich golden-yellow colour of the young 

 branohlets ; the latter is one of the most useful and 

 attractive of variegated shrubs. Adpressa was for a 

 long time believed to be a native of Japan, but in 

 reality nothing is definitely kjiown as to its origin ; 

 it is a very distinct Yew, with short, ovate-oblong, 

 blackish-green leaves and spreading branches, form- 

 ing a dense flat head ; sub- varieties of this are erecta, 

 a form pf upright habit, and rariegata, a state in which 

 many of the young branchlets are tipped with creamy- 

 white. Bovastoni is a remarkable variety, having 

 longer, deeper green leaves than the coiomou Yew, 

 and pendulous branchlets ; there is also a variegated 

 f oi-m of this, and both are seen to best advantage when 

 worked on tall stems of the upright-growing type. 

 Megantissima is one of tiie best of the variegated 

 kinds — a compact, free grower, and constant in its 

 character. Bricoides has very small, Heath-like 

 leaves, and is a dwarf-growing bush with slender 

 branches. Fastigiata is the well-known Florence 



