72 



PINACEiE. 



CUPRKSSUS KNIGHTIANA: Knight's Cypress. 



This is a Mexican ; where it is said to attain a height of one hundred 

 and twenty feet, and a trunk diameter of three feet, and that its timber 

 is excellent. Trom my experience of it under cultivation, and exami- 

 nations of its ligneous tissue, I am satisfied it will falsify both these 

 statements in Britain ; for, although tolerably hardy, it requires the 

 best soils, warmest localities, and most sheltered situations to induce it 

 to grow, much less to develop itself fully ; yet, in situations favour- 

 able to it, a handsome, free-groTN^ng tree, with glaucous green leaves, 

 brownish spreading branches, and feathery, glaucous and plum- 

 coloured branchlets would reward its planter. 



CUPRKSSUS La WSONIANA : Lawson's Cypress. 



This is a distinct kind, though somewhat related to its congener, the 

 " j^ootka Sound Cypress," both of which partake much of the Arbor- 

 Vitae character. It is found in the valleys of Xorthern California, 

 where it attains a height, of one hundred feet : the wood produced by 

 it is compact, tolerably close-grained, clean-fibred, somewhat resinous, 

 easily wrought, and when matured and seasoned, no doubt it will prove 

 durable. This Cypress is thoroughly hardy, and seems to grow freely 

 in most soils and situations ; and young plants of it grow so rapidly 

 that we are planting it out, on a small scale, as a forest tree, in the 

 hope that when it becomes matured, and is felled by the succeeding 

 generation, it will be found to be good and profitable timber : few, if 

 any, of the firs and pines are more easily propagated or increased, 

 inasmuch as it is a most abundant seeder, producing cones as freely as 

 foliage, even on young plants less than a yard in height. This, indeed, 

 might fairly be assumed as an indication of constitutional weakness : 

 but the apparently vigorous growth and robust habit of the plant, 

 argue very strongly against such a supposition, and it roots most freely 

 from cuttings. These characteristics will, doubtless, be the means of its 

 being largely employed as an ornamental tree or shrub in this country ; 

 and for such a purpose it is well suited, being, as it is, a most handsome 

 tree, and when young a most beautiful shrub, since its branches are 

 numerous and well-clothed with foliage ; and though inclined to grow 

 erect, yet the leading annual shoots and the branchlets are drooping, 

 and slender, and regularly disposed, rendering most symmetrical 

 pyramids of rich gTeen spray ; or graceful pillars of plumes and 

 feathers, particularly pleasing when thickly studded with the yellow, 

 ruby, and green catkins in spring; and with the green and dappled 

 brown cones in summer and autumn. There are already, several 



