CONIFERS. 



357 



shorter, very silvery leaves, glauca, is grown in 

 nurseries, and is propagated by grafting on the type. 



C. Deodara — the Deodar, or Indian Cedar — was 

 introduced from the Himalayas in 1831, and some 

 of the finest specimens in Britain are now between 

 sixty and seventy feet in height. There are several 

 varieties cultivated, the following of which are the 

 best : — Argentea has leaves almost silvery in colour ; 

 in robust a both leaves — which are but slightly glau- 

 cous — and branches are much stouter than in the 

 type ; viridis has foliage of a deeper green than that 

 of the ordinary type. These varieties must be pro- 

 pagated by grafting on clean-grown vigorous stocks 

 of any other Cedar. 



C. Zibani also presents some interesting varieties, 

 the best of which is argentea, remarkable for its very 

 glaucous foliage ; brevifolia, recently discovered in 

 Cyprus, differs principally in its very short leaves 

 and smaller cones. The most recent and the most 

 trustworthy account of the condition of the famous 

 Cedar grove on Lebanon is that given by Sir J. D. 

 Hooker in the Natural History Review, January, 1862. 

 Abstracts from this paper are contained in Messrs. 

 Yeitch's very useful "Manual of the Coniferae." 



Chamsecyparis. — Some of the plants now re- 

 ferred to here were formerly considered to belong to 

 the genus Cupressus, and others were believed to be 

 sufficiently distinct to form a genus apart, viz., 

 Retinospora. All are natives of North America or 

 Japan. Several are amongst the most popular of 

 cultivated Conifers ; they thrive under a variety of 

 conditions as regards soil and situation, but perhaps 

 do best in a damp but well-drained peat. All are 

 readily propagated by cuttings either struck in heat 

 or in a cold frame, &c, 



C. Laicsoniana, perhaps better known as Cupressus 

 Latvsoniana, is one of the most variable of evergreen 

 sbrubs or trees ; a host of forms are cultivated in 

 nurseries. The type was introduced from Upper 

 California in 1854; in its native habitats it attains a 

 height of upwards of 100 feet. The pendulous Fern- 

 like feathery branchlets, and the deep glaucous 

 green foliage and graceful habit of this species ren- 

 der it one of the most useful for general decorative 

 purposes. Argentea has glaucous foliage of almost 

 silvery whiteness, and longer and more slender 

 branches than in the type. Erecta viridis is a com- 

 pact form with a tapering fastigiate habit, somewhat 

 like that of an Irish Yew ; it has light bright green 

 leaves, and is a very distinct plant. In flavescens, or 

 lutea, the whole of the young growth is a light clear 

 yellow, which becomes much deeper in winter. Nana 

 is a slow-growing, very compact bush, almost globose 

 in outline, and deep green in colour. Besides the 

 varieties already mentioned — which are, perhaps, 



the most distinct in general characters — there are 

 many others which are almost equally desirable. 



C. NutJmnsis, widely cultivated under the name of 

 Thujopsis boreal is, is also a native of North-west 

 America, whence it was introduced about thirty-five 

 years ago ; it differs from the last-named species by 

 its more robust habit, its paler green foliage, and 

 sulphury-yellow, instead of red, male catkins. It is 

 perfectly hardy, and thrives in almost any soil or 

 situation, provided the ground be not too dry. There 

 are several varieties, differing somewhat in size, 

 habit, colour of leaves. &c. In its native country it 

 is said to attain a height of from 80 to 100 feet. 



O. obtusa, or Retinospora obtusa, is said to be one of 

 the most useful timber trees in Japan ; in England 

 it is only of use for ornamental purposes, and should 

 be planted in sheltered spots in a moist, retentive 

 soil. It varies exceedingly under cultivation, some 

 of the forms — nana and pygtrma — making dense 

 bushes hardly more than a foot in height : these are 

 best planted on rockwork. Aurea is one of the best 

 and brightest of Conifers with coloured leaves. 



C. pisifera, or Retinospora pisifera, also a native of 

 Japan, is distinguished from the last by the feathery 

 appearance of its light fulvous green foliage. There 

 is a considerable number of varieties, which have 

 originated either as seedlings or as branch sports ; 

 one of the most desirable and beautiful is aurea, with 

 the foliage and young growths a rich golden-yellow. 

 Filifera is remarkable for the long, thread-like, pen- 

 sile branchlets. 



C. squarrosa, 'or Retinospora squarrosa is probably 

 only a condition of the last-named species ; the 

 branchlets are numerous and spreading, " and with 

 their foliage of a light glaucous green, suffused with 

 a tint of almost silvery whiteness, quite unlike that 

 of any other Coniferous tree." 



C. thy aides, the "White Cedar of the Eastern United 

 States, is a strong-scented evergreen tree, from thirty 

 to seventy feet high ; it is of pyramidal, dense habit, 

 with glaucous green leaves. In its native habitats 

 it affects swamps, and in cultivation thrives best in 

 damp, moist spots. Yariegata only differs from the 

 type in having about half the branchlets and foliage 

 a rich golden -yellow. 



Cryptomeria.— This genus contains but a single 

 species, and is confined to China and Japan. The 

 type is one of the finest of Japanese trees, and is 

 largely planted by the natives. A considerable 

 number of forms have been introduced or have 

 originated in this country. The following are the 

 best: — Lobbii has brighter, deeper green foliage than 

 the type, and is more compact in habit, with less 

 pendulous branchlets. Xana is a dwarf dense-grow- 

 ing bush, useful for planting amongst rockwork, £c. 



