70 PINACE.E. 



" Marsh Cypress." Be this as it may, I have had plants and specimens 

 of branches, leaves, and cones, furnished to me, and amongst these I 

 found the old species Sphoeroides ; likewise, some of the specimens 

 were Cupressus Thurifera, Biota Orientalis, or some of their varieties; 

 and some of the specimens were Juniperus of sorts ; until, therefore, I 

 find it, I leave it as it is, in the domain of fantasy. 



Sub. § 2. CUPRKSSUS : The Prototypical Cypress. 



Flowers, male and female, on the same plant, but separate ; males 

 numerous and cylindrical, females roundish and solitary, or in clusters. 



Leaves, scale-formed, awl-shaped, ovate, linear, needle-shaped, flat, 

 or angular ; also variously disposed, generally imbricated in four rows, 

 in some spreading and sharp-pointed, in others spiral and blunt- 

 pointed j of various sizes and all shades of light and dark, silvery and 

 glaucous, powdery and shining, and of yellowish and blueish-green 

 colours : and in some species, particularly on the adult branches, the 

 leaves become brown and rusty. 



Cones, generally globular in form, from one-eighth to one inch 

 broad, and one-quarter to one-and-a-half inches long; in clusters or 

 singly, scales from four to twelve in number, angular, four-sided, five- 

 sided, or rounded, generally with a more or less curved point at their 

 apex ; seeds numerous, angular, obovate, or rounded ; with bony shells 

 and membranaceous wings. 



Here we have a very numerous and dissimilar group, ranging from 

 three feet to one hundred feet in height, nearly all of them sufficiently 

 hardy for our climate; and most beautiful trees and shrubs for 

 ornamental planting. The timber of most of them is close-grained, 

 hard, high-coloured, fragrant, capable of receiving a high polish, 

 and not subject to the ravages of wood-moths : in some species it is 

 non-carbonaceous to a high degree, consequently very durable and 

 indestructible. Their small dimension and moderate rate of growth, 

 however, detract greatly from their otherwise good qualities as timber 

 trees ; though, as will be seen from what follows, there are three of 

 them that we have upon probation, as profitable timber trees, suitable 

 for the climate and soils of Britain. 



CUPRKSSUS CalIFORNIGA gracilis: The Slender- 

 branched. 



This is a graceful, small-sized tree or shrub, ranging from five to 

 fifteen feet in height, being much influenced in its stature and general 

 deportment by the soils and situations where it may be grown ; and 

 also in the young state by the modes of propagation by which it may 



