HARDY CONIFEROUS PLANTS. 
315 
cate, what is already very generally known, 
its love for a free, deep, moist soil. Indeed, 
it is one of those trees which might be suc- 
cessfully introduced in wet boggy places in 
this country, where no outlet can be found 
for the superfluous moisture. In Britain, it 
has long been one of the chief trees in shrub- 
beries ; and in such of the older gardens as 
retain their ancient features, specimens are 
frequently met with thirty feet, forty feet, 
and even fifty feet in height. In England it 
forms a connecting link between shrubs and 
trees, and is very useful in this respect in 
the formation of pleasure grounds. It is also 
a very desirable plant in the formation of 
Thuja orientalis stricta. 
fences, where shelter, without strength or 
rigidity, is required. In this shape, it is fre- 
quently planted by nurserymen for the pro- 
tection of half-hardy herbaceous and bulbous - 
rooted plants. As a timber tree, it is of no 
account in this country, though in Canada it 
is sometimes used, along with stronger wood, 
in the framework of houses. As a picturesque 
object, it is also of no importance, though it 
may be sometimes seen assuming a graceful 
pendent habit. 
It is remarkably easy to propagate — which 
is done by seeds, cuttings, and layering. The 
seeds are ripe in this country in the latter 
end of September, or in the first week of 
October. As soon as the cones are gathered, 
they should be spread in an upper airy cham- 
ber, or loft, for a month, when they will be- 
come brittle and break to pieces on being 
rubbed with the feet. The seeds may then 
be extracted by sifting, and kept in a dry 
place till the first week in May, when they 
may be sown in a north aspect in finely raked 
loamy soil, covered to the depth of a quarter 
of an inch only, and kept uniformly moist for 
a few weeks, when the young plants will ap- 
pear. The plan of raising plants by cuttings 
must in every instance give way to that of 
layering, which is by far the most expeditious 
mode of raising quantities of this shrub. The 
operation may be performed in the spring, 
pegging down every little branch, which does 
not require to be cut, as in the case of the 
carnation, &c. In many instances, the plants 
may be removed in the spring following, but 
if not sufficiently rooted, they should be left 
till the autumn. Plants one foot and a half 
high, 6d. each, or As. per dozen (1846). 
The following are some of the varieties : — 
(1.) T. o.variegata. A variety with varie- 
gated leaves raised in the Dunganstown nur- 
sery in the year 1830. The largest specimen 
in England is in the Arboretum at Chiswick. 
(2.) T. o. odorata. — A fancied variation, 
entered in continental catalogues, and said to 
be more aromatic than the species. 
(3.) T. o.plicata. — Thevariety most worthy 
of notice. By several nurserymen, it is im- 
properly set forth as a species. Its branch- 
lets are numerous and spreading, with leaves 
of a light green, shining colour. Found by 
Nee in Mexico : and by Menzies at Nootka 
Sound, in 1796, when it was introduced by 
him into this country. It is most easily pro- 
pagated by layers, allowed to remain for two 
seasons attached to the stool. It is a more 
compact grower, and more ornamental, than 
the species. Plants, two feet high, are 2s. 
each (1846). ■ 
2. Thuja chilensis, Lambert (Chili Arbor 
Vitas). — Leaves three-angled, ovate-oblong, 
imbricated in four rows. Cones oval-oblong, 
with a few compressed obtuse scales. 
A beautiful spreading tree, found by Nee 
and Pavon, associated with the Araucaria on 
the mountainous parts of Chili. 
It is not yet to be had in the English nur- 
series ; but there is every probability of its 
proving hardy, and a most desirable addition 
to the English shrubbery. 
3. Thuja orientalis, Linnaeus (Oriental, 
or Chinese Arbor VitEe). — Leaves in four 
rows, furrowed in the centre, ovate-rhomboid, 
adpressed, imbricated. Cones small, elliptic, 
with prickly prominences. 
A compact-growing, handsome shrub, in- 
troduced into England in 1752, and generally 
preferred to the T. occideJitalis on account 
of its lively green colour. After it is four 
years old, this plant becomes hardy enough 
to withstand our severest winters, though it is 
