328 



THE GAEDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



tioned there are the numerous varieties of the 

 common Yew (golden, silver, pendulous, and 

 erect), the Eetinosporas, Tsuga Pattoniana, T. 

 Hookeriana, T. Sieboldi, Sciadopitys verticillata, 

 Thuja dolabrata, T. occidentalis, T. orientalis, Cryp- 

 tomeria elegans, Abies brachyphylla, Picea pungens 

 var. glauca, P. polita, P. ajanensis, P. Morinda, 

 Juniperus chinensis, J. virginiana, Pinus parviflora, 

 P. Bungeana, P. monophylla, and Taxus adpressa. 



Of still smaller dimensions, and suited for 

 small lawns, the rockery, &c, there may be 

 mentioned: the dwarf forms of the common 

 Spruce like Gregoriana, pygmcea, and Clanbras- 

 siliana, Picea nigra var. iJoumetti, Pinus montana, 

 Cryptomeria elegans var. nana, Taxus baccata var. 

 ericoides, Prumnopitys elegans, Podocarpus alpinus, 

 the smaller Eetinosporas, and the dwarf and 

 prostrate Junipers. 



For exposed positions on the coast the follow- 

 ing have been found to succeed the best: the 

 Austrian, Corsican, and Scotch Pines, Pinus Pin- 

 aster, P. insignis, P. muricata, the common Silver 

 Fir, and Cupressus macrocarpa. 



Conifers should never be allowed to become 

 deformed or unshapely, and any tendency in 

 that direction should be rectified as soon as 

 noticed by pruning whilst the shoots are young. 

 Eetinosporas of the plumosa group are in some 

 soils apt to become thin, but their appearance 

 can be much improved by pinching off the 

 stronger shoots twice or thrice during the sum- 

 mer. If it be necessary to remove large branches 

 from Pines, Abies, &c, it should be done in 

 September or October, and the wounds imme- 

 diately tarred over. (See chapter on Pruning.) 



Various insects attack Conifers, and do so 

 much injury that a sharp watch should be main- 

 tained in the garden to prevent their gaining 

 a strong foothold. Several species of Picea are 

 subject to the attacks of the "Spruce-gall aphis"'. 

 The larvae of this insect penetrate the bark, and 

 cause a gall to form which varies from h inch to 

 1 inch in length, and is shaped like the cone of 

 a Pine. These galls should be removed by hand 

 as early as possible in summer and burnt. The 

 young shoots of several Pines, more especially 

 P. muricata and P. insignis, are frequently 

 destroyed by the larvae of the "Pine beetle", 

 these too should be removed and destroyed as 

 soon as noticed. Various kinds of Aphides and 

 scale infest the Larch (especially Larix Griffithii), 

 Pines, &c ; these may as a rule be killed by 

 syringing once or twice with a mixture of 

 paraffin-oil, soft soap, and water. 



Abies. — This name is applied to the Silver Fir group, 

 which may be distinguished from the Spruce Firs [Picea) 



by their erect cones and by the leaves usually being two- 

 ranked. They are grand evergreen trees of symmetrical 

 growth, and include some of the handsomest of garden 

 Conifers. For other species often given this generic 

 name see Picea, Pseudotsuga, a,nd Tsuga. 



A. amabilis. — One of the finest, with beautiful dark 

 glossy-green foliage, silvery beneath. It grows tall and 

 straight, with a slender conical habit. North California, 

 1831. 



A. balsamea, Balsam Fir. — This resembles the Silver 

 Fir, but it attains only a height of 40 to 50 feet, and is 

 liable to early decay. North America, 1696. 



A. brachyphylla. — One of the hardiest of the Japanese 

 species, and better adapted for growing near towns than 

 many others. The leaves are bright-green above and 

 have two silvery lines beneath, the apex being blunt or 

 slightly notched. Cones purple, 3 to 4 inches long. 

 Japan, 1870. 



A. bracteata. — A tall slender tree, with leaves 2 to 3 

 inches long, and long slender bracts. As a young plant 

 it starts into growth so early in spring that it is almost 

 always injured by the late frosts. California, 1850. 



A. cephalonica. — A tree 50 to 60 feet high, with the 

 rigid sharp-pointed leaves regularly disposed, like a stiff 

 bottle-brush, all around the branches. It commences its 

 growth early, and is thus liable to be injured by frost. 

 It should always be planted in elevated situations and 

 on deep soils. Greece, 1824. 



A. concolor. — A very handsome species, with leaves 2| 

 inches long, usually notched at the point, glaucous above, 

 silvery beneath. It is erroneously known in gardens as 

 lasiocarpa, Parsonsii, and Lowii. The variety violacea is 

 much more glaucous. California, &c, 1851. 



A. firma (A. bifida). — The perfect hardiness of this, 

 its quick growth when once established, and the deep 

 glossy- green of its foliage make it a valuable species for 

 ornamental planting. On young plants the leaves are 

 deeply notched, but on cone-bearing branches they are 

 almost or quite entire. Japan, 1861. 



A. grandis. — A handsome hardy species 100 to 250 feet 

 high. Leaves distichous, dark-green above, silvery beneath. 

 North-West America, 1831. 



A. magnifica. — Of somewhat stiff formal growth, the 

 leaves being very glaucous when young and crowded on 

 the branches. Similar to A. nobilis, but may be dis- 

 tinguished by the transverse section of the leaf being 

 diamond-shaped. California, 1851. 



A. Mariesii. — This is described as forming a tall, pyra- 

 midal tree in Japan. On young plants in this country 

 the leaves are about an inch long, bilobed, and marked 

 with two white lines beneath. Japan, 1879. 



A. nobilis (fig. 407). — A tall handsome tree, bearing 

 large erect cones while young. As seen in gardens it has 

 crowded curved thick leaves of a glaucous, bluish-green 

 tinge, afterwards assuming a darker hue. California, 

 perfectly hardy in this country. 1831. 



A. Xordmanniana. — Resembles the Silver Fir, but is 

 both handsomer and hardier. Leaves dark-green and 

 shining above, silvery beneath. Black Sea regions, 1845.' 



A. pectinata, Silver Fir. — This is quite hardy, save that 

 when young it is often very much crippled by spring 

 frosts. Central Europe, 1630. 



A. Pinsapo.— Resembles A. cephalonica, but the light- 

 green leaves are stouter and less sharply pointed, and 

 not, like it, liable to be injured. A symmetrical densely 

 branching tree 50 to 70 feet high, deservedly a great 

 favourite, and one of the most beautiful ornaments of our 

 lawns. Spain, 1839. 



