310 
HARDY CONIFEROUS PLANTS. 
invariably embrowned by exposure to frosts. 
Hence, in all cases where it can be conve- 
niently done, dead branches should be stuck 
around young plants, in order that they may 
present a fresh and lively appearance in spring 
time. Many fine specimens of this tree are 
to be seen in the suburbs of London, where 
it seems to thrive remarkably well. Its 
propagation is by cuttings, layering, and seeds. 
The first process is seldom resorted to, be- 
cause it is surer and quicker to raise the plants 
by layering the young twigs, which will strike 
root much sooner if cut underneath, in the 
same way that carnations are treated. Even 
with this advantage, the layers will not have 
sufficient roots until the second year after 
they have been laid down. The operation 
may be performed either in the month of 
September, or in the spring ; but it is im- 
portant to remember that autumn is a bad 
time to remove the plants from the mother- 
stools, as they have then to contend unsup- 
ported with the severities of winter. They 
should therefore be taken away during the 
latter part of March, or in April. During 
favourable summers, the trees ripen their 
seeds in this country in October. The cones 
should be spread in a dry airy chamber, and 
in the course of a few weeks they will shed 
part of their seeds, and the remainder may 
be easily got at by rubbing the cones. In 
the month of March a free loamy soil should 
be selected, and the seeds deposited to the 
depth of a quarter of an inch, watering them 
at all times when the weather proves dry. In 
the seed-bed the plants may remain two years, 
when they should be placed in lines. Plants, 
one foot high, 6d. each ; and those eighteen 
inches in height, Is. each (1846). 
Some varieties are met with in gardens : — 
(1.) T. o. striata, is a variety with the 
branches gathered close up to the stem, as- 
suming the habit, in a certain measure, of the 
evergreen cypress. Hence it bears the name 
of pyramidalis in some catalogues. It is 
propagated in several of the London nur- 
series, where it is sold at Is. 6d. each (1846). 
(2.) T. o. tatarica seems to be a stunted 
variety of the species, the branches and leaves 
being short and compressed. Plants are 9s. 
per dozen. 
(3.) T. o. Wareana. Another variety, more 
distinct than either of the foregoing. It is 
cultivated by Knight of Chelsea, where the 
plant is sold at Is. 6d. each (1816). 
4. Thuja cupressoides, Linnasus (Cypress-like 
Arbor Vitas). — Leaves four-rowed, smooth, im- 
bricated, oblong. Cones four-angled, globular. 
A yew-like plant, a native of the Cape, and 
introduced by Roxburgh in 1799. There is 
a specimen in Kew Gardens, but it is scarcely 
known in the nurseries. 
5. T. pe7isilis, Lambert (pensile Arbor Vitaa). 
— Leaves alternate, three-rowed, trigonous, 
awl-shaped. Cones obovate. 
An elegant tree, a native of China, whence 
Sir George Staunton brought specimens to 
this country, but the living plant is not yet 
procurable in the nurseries of England. 
6. Thuja pendula, Lambert (pendulous 
Arbor Vita?). — Branches filiform, pendulous ; 
leaves distant, opposite, lanceolate, spread- 
ing. Cones globose, with smooth convex 
scales. 
A most lovely shrub, native of Chinese 
Tartary, having long hanging branches of a 
light green colour. Few plants excel it in 
gracefulness, and it is to be regretted that it is 
rather difficult to propagate, and that, conse- 
quently, it is still high-priced and somewhat 
scarce. It has proved itself to be hardy in 
Britain, several specimens having stood in the 
open air at Dropmore for ten years. It is 
propagated by cuttings, carefully inserted in 
a mixture of sand and peat placed so to be 
excited by bottom heat. Plants in pots, one 
foot high, 10s. 6d. each (1846). 
7. Thuja filiformis, Loddiges (weeping 
Arbor Vitas). — Branches filiform, pendulous. 
Leaves opposite, distant, acute, spreading. 
Cones roundish, consisting of four scales, hav- 
ing each at the apex an obtuse recurved 
mucro. 
A very charming shrub, with the habit of 
T. pendula, and usually confounded with that 
species. There is, however, a remarkable dis- 
tinction in the cones. The habit of the plant 
is to produce drooping slender branches, 
which are of greater or less length according 
to the nature of the protective circumstances 
under which they have been produced. The 
plant is quite hardy. It is probably a native 
of Nepal. There is a fine old plant at Kew, 
and another in the Apothecaries' Garden, 
Chelsea. It is propagated by cuttings like 
the T. pendula. 
8. Thuja nepalensis, Loddiges (Nepal 
Arbor Vitas). — A handsome species from the 
mountains of Nepal, and hardy enough in the 
climate of Britain. Plants in pots, six inches, 
21s. each (1846). 
9. Thuja hybrida. — A rather tender 
species recently introduced ; and, as the plants 
are small, nothing definite can be yet said as 
to its habit. Plants in pots, six inches high, 
are 21s. each (1846). 
10. Thuja dolabrata, "Willdenow, is a spe- 
cies not yet introduced ; but, according to 
Thunberg's account, it is one of the most 
beautiful of all the evergreen tribes, becoming 
a tree of great height and dimensions, and 
planted as a roadside ornament on the hill 
of Fakonia. It has a dense head, and the 
foliage is of a beuatiful shining green colour. 
