10 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



gardens), like tlie Wellingtonia, does better wlien raised from 

 seed than when propagated from cuttings ? 



Systematic information is also needed as to the hardiness 

 and rate of growth of particular species on particular soils. 

 Many such particulars are buried in the " Pinetum Britannicum " 

 and in the horticultural journals ; but it is time that they were 

 made more accessible, and that the observations made some 

 years since should be added to and correlated with the results of 

 more recent inquiry, so that the records of this Congress may 

 afford the most complete information on the growth of these 

 trees in Britain. 



Beauty of Foem and Coloue. 



Some will say they feel no interest in speculative chronology, 

 internal structure, or mysterious laws of growth ; they love 

 beauty for its own sake. Be it so. They will find a rich harvest 

 among the Conifers. The exhibition to-day furnishes abundant 

 illustrations. Listen also to those who have traversed the 

 forests of the Californian Sierras, and note how rapturously 

 they speak of beauties which not even the Palms or Tree-Ferns 

 of the tropics can excel — of majesty, of stature and dignity of 

 form that the mountains only can surpass. 



In point of colour we have every shade of green, from the 

 tender green of the Swamp Cypress to the deep hues of the 

 Cypress so expressively noted by Mrs. Trollope : 



" And a cypress mystic-hearted 



Cleaves the quiet dome of light, 

 With its black-green masses parted 

 But by gaps of blacker night.' \ 



In point, too, of colour, to say nothing of the many varie- 

 gated and coloured forms so well represented to-day, the unfold- 

 ing buds and shoots are marvels of beauty in the spring season, 

 whilst the orange and crimson and purple of the male catkins, 

 of the female flowers and of the young cones are not to be out- 

 done in intensity of hue by any other plants whatever. Those who 

 assert, as I have heard them assert, that Conifers are monotonous 

 in point of colour can evidently never have seen the trees either 

 when they put on their spring attire or when they don their 

 mature bridal dress. 



