442 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



during the winter protect the frame from the frost. As the spring advances those that are 

 struck' may be potted off. Should any signs of decay appear before the cuttings are rooted, 

 a little air may be given to dry up the superfluous moisture and thereby arrest decay. 



Grafting is a pernicious practice, and is generally done in August, the stock- employed 

 being young seedling plants established in pots, with stems about the thickness of a pencil. 

 Side grafting is the method usually adopted, and those operated on must be kept quite 

 close and shaded under glass till a union is complete. It is strongly advised, however, that 

 this method be entirely abolished. Grafting is responsible for so many failures amongst 

 Conifers, the stock' proving victorious over the scion. One can well understand that unless 

 the two fit in exactly and develop satisfactorily the results must be unpleasant. The 

 different Conifers as a rule cannot be depended upon in smoky districts, where deciduous 

 subjects succeed better than evergreens. 



A few of the best for chalky soils are : Abies excelsa, Cedrus atlantica, Deodar Cedar 

 (Cedrus Deodara), Pinus Laricio, Pinus sylvestris, Larix europsea, Sequoia sempervirens, 



FIRS AT BRAMSHILL PARK, HAMPSHIRE. 



Cupressus Lawsoniana, Cupressus maerocarpa, Thuja gigantea (Lobbi), Juniperus Sabina, 

 Juniperus virginiana, Taxus baccata. 



The nomenclature of the Conifers has undergone considerable alteration, and whilst 

 desirous of preserving thu old names at present, for the sake of those readers not yet accustomed 

 to the new classification, the true names are also given, according to the Kew hand list. 



A selection of the most ornamental Conifers is herewith given : 



Abies brachyphylla. — A Silver Fir from Japan, which 

 has only been known in this country a little over twenty- 

 live years, hence no very large specimens are to be met 

 with. It forms a pyramidal-shaped tree, with regularly 

 whorled branches, disposed in a horizontal manner, and 

 clothed with rich green leaves, the longest of which are 

 about i. 'in. in length. Its rich colour, and the fact that 

 it is perfectly hardy and not particular as to soil, renders 

 this a very desirable subject for planting as a single 



specimen in the park or on the lawn. Synonyms are 

 Picea brachyphylla and Pinus brachyphylla. 

 A. CanadsnsiS. — This, the Hemlock Spruce, is an 

 exceedingly graceful tree, at all events up to 20ft or 30 t. 

 in height. It is usually of broadly pyramidal shape, the 

 branchlets being slender and more or less drooping. The 

 leaves are only about Jin. long, while the cones are also 

 very small. There is also a variety parvifolia. The true 

 name of this now is Picea alba. 



