110 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



London area, or whether they would thrive anywhere in the Thames 

 Valley. 



Cryptomerias. 



Very few of these trees appear to exist in the London suburbs. But 

 I know of a few passable specimens (as town -grown trees go). I should 

 not, however, recommend them. 



LlBOCEDRUS DECURRENS. 



This tree is absolutely unmatched for avenue or specimen purposes, 

 where it will do. Unfortunately this is only in certain soils, and not at 

 all in the London area. 



So many of the " Stately Homes of England " have been modelled on 

 Italian lines, and require avenues of columnar Cypress to complete the 

 association. 



It is therefore very unfortunate that those varieties most used in Italy 

 are not hardy in our climate. Yet in Libocedrus dccurrens we have an 

 equally suitable and even more beautiful tree, perfectly hardy, and keep- 

 ing its intense lustrous foliage intact through the severest east winds, and 

 in the very depth of winter. 



The best specimens I have seen were growing in a damp gravelly soil 

 (Dogger Sands) overlying Kimeridge Clay. I think they require a 

 damp soil ; for at Kew, though they exist and grow, they have lost 

 their beauty to a great extent. This defect was still more marked in a 

 row planted at Isleworth about 1846, and recently cut down. I hope — but 

 this is only a hope — that Chamcecyparis Fraseri will fill this great lack of 

 a hardy columnar Cypress for Great Britain in places where Libocedrus 

 dccurrens will not grow. Thuya gigantea pyramidalis may also prove a 

 fine tree for such purposes. 



Biotas. 



Of recent years these have been subject to the attacks of the " Juniper 

 louse," which in the course of a few years spoils the beauty of the trees. 

 Sudden death has also overtaken two of these trees in my garden. They 

 were about fifty years old, and in fair health until this June, when they 

 suddenly died. Cause unascertained. This is one of the trees which 

 used to flourish about this district, but does so no longer. It should not 

 lie planted in suburban gardens. 



Junipers. 



The Chinese Juniper seems immune from the parasite. There is a 

 yellow garden form, beautiful in a small state. None of these trees are 

 suitable for suburban gardens. 



Sequoias. 



.s. gigantea {Wellingtonia g.) does well in places where the Lawson 

 CypreSfl B well. It is by no means an ideal garden tree, and, unless a 

 very perfect specimen, looks gaunt and out of place in a garden. It is a 

 fonst tree. S. tempervirens (Red 'Wood of builders) is another forest 



