ON CONIFERS. 



329 



that fatal year opened up a new era in the Pineta of this 

 country. To enumerate one-tenth of the hardy trees in a 

 paper of this kind, which only touches the fringe of a most im- 

 portant subject, would simply be out of the question, but in one 

 sentence I think I may cover much ground by saying no one 

 can err in planting all the Japanese Conifers, and with the ex- 

 ception of Picea Webbiana, P. Pindrow, and P. religiosa, which 

 require exceptionally good situations, they may plant all the 

 Silver Firs now obtainable in English Nurseries. Any tree 

 which stands in Messrs. Veitch's Nursery at Coombe Wood, 

 I should not be afraid of planting, but those less favoured 

 should study the geography of plants, and if I mistake not they 

 will find hardiness depends more upon altitude than it does upon 

 latitude. 



General Bemarhs. — Shelter.— Many of the Pine and Fir 

 tribe found growing on the slopes of mountains do not suffer so 

 much from wind and exposure as they do from stagnant water 

 about the roots ; therefore, whilst shelter does them no harm, 

 the first point is drainage. The Silver Firs, on the other hand, 

 from lower latitudes, although perfectly hardy in their matured 

 wood, in some few instances make an early growth, liable to be 

 injured by spring frosts. To prevent this, whilst providing a 

 deep moist soil for the roots, the tops should be fairly exposed to 

 a north or north-west aspect, with shelter, if possible, from the 

 early morning sun and strong winds. 



Conifers from Lower California, the South of Europe, and 

 Northern India should not be taken into consideration unless they 

 can be planted high, and they should have shelter from cutting 

 winds, which often do more damage than still frost. Some of the 

 Japanese Conifers are very impatient of our keen cutting winds, 

 notably the Cryptomeria, a giant in its native country, but a dis- 

 appointing tree with us when exposed, especially upon thin dry 

 soils, though it develops into a most graceful object on deep moist 

 loams, sheltered from north and north-east, and open to the sun 

 and light. 



The winter of 18G0 having reduced the Cypresses, those left 

 and still planted are fairly hardy in the old wood, but succeed 

 best when sheltered from the north and exposed to the south 

 and west. Cupressus nutkaensis and C. Lawsoniana are excep- 

 tions, and may be used for screens and hedges. Most of the 



