i 155) 

 PART 18— JAPANESE CEDARS 



ROYAL TEMPLE TREES OE JAPAN 



The collection of Japanese Cedars is located in a group across 

 the path from the Umbrella Pines at the north end of the meadow 

 that borders the Hemlock Grove on its western side (Map p. 137). 

 These trees are 



Cryptomeria japonica, the Japanese Cedar 



This is one of the handsomest and most distinctive of ever- 

 greens. It forms a tall narrow tree of dark foliage and should be 

 planted, preferably, as individual specimens to show its beauty 

 rather than in masses, unless the latter be justified. 



Cryptomeria is native to Japan and China, where it attains a 

 height of from 100 to 180 feet, forming a majestic tree that rivals 

 our Redwoods of California in grandeur. In the former country 

 it has for ages been regarded with almost religious esteem and 

 much planted about temples and shrines. There is a story in 

 Japan that when the body of Ieyasu was laid to rest on the Nikko 

 Hills his successor called upon all his followers to send each a 

 stone or bronze lantern to decorate the grounds about the mortu- 

 ary temples. All complied but one man, who was too poor. He 

 offered to plant trees along the road to the tomb that subsequent 

 pilgrims might be protected from the sweltering sun. His offer 

 was accepted. The trees were planted at the beginning of the 

 seventeenth century and ever since have been maintained or re- 

 placed as needed. Today, three hundred years later, that avenue 

 of Cryptomerias is said to present one of the finest sights in the 

 world. 



Probably more impressive, according to a contemporary trav- 

 eler, is another avenue of these trees over a mile long. They are 

 said to have been planted by a priest, Ogo Shotting about 650 

 years ago. 



Throughout the Empire, Cryptomeria has been very extensively 

 planted and with the exception of the Japanese Red-Pine, P. densi- 

 flora (p. 24), it is the most commonly grown conifer in Japan. 

 Two decades ago Cryptomeria was said to constitute thirty per 



