THE ORNAMENTAL PLANTS — CONIFERS 



333 



tioned, will tend to preserve the lower limbs, and it will not be 

 marked enough to alter the form of the tree. 



The number of excellent coniferous evergreens now offered in 

 the American trade is large. They are slow of growth and 

 require much room if good specimens are to be obtained; but 

 if the space can be had and the proper exposure secured, no 

 trees add greater dignity and distinction to an estate. Reli- 

 able comments on the rarer conifers may be found in the cata- 

 logues of the best nurserymen. 



List of shrubby conifers. 



The following list contains the most usual of the shrub-like 

 coniferous evergreens, with asterisks (*) to mark those native to 

 this country. The double dagger (J) in this and the succeeding 

 list marks those species that are found to be hardy at Ottawa, 

 Ontario, and are recommended by the Central Experimental 

 Farm of Canada. 



Dwarf arborvitae. Thuja occidentalis.^ 



There are many dwarf and compact varieties of arborvitte, most of which 

 are excellent for small places. The most desirable for general jDurposes, and 

 also the largest, is the so-called Siberian. Other very desirable forms are 

 those sold as globosa, ericoides, compacta,X Hovey,X Ellwangeriana,X pyra- 

 midaliSjX Wareana (or Sihirica),X and aurea Douglasii.X 



Japanese arborvitae or retinospora, Chamcecyparis of various species. 



Retinosporas t under names as follows: Cupressus ericoides, 2 ft., with fine 

 soft delicate green foliage that assumes a purplish tinge in winter; C. 

 pisifera, one of the best, with a pendulous habit and bright green foliage; 

 C. pisifera var. filifera, with drooping branches and thread-like pendulous 

 branches; C. pisifera var. pluynosa, more compact than P. pisifera and 

 feathery; var. aurea of the last, "one of the most beautiful golden-leaved 

 evergreen shrtibs in cultivation." 



Juniper, Juniperus communis,'^ and garden varieties. 



The juniper is a partially trailing plant, of loose habit, suitable for banks 

 and rocky places. There are upright and very formal varieties of it, the best 

 being those sold as var. Hihernica (fastigiata) ,X "Irish juniper," and var. 

 Suecica, "Swedish juniper." 



