300 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER . 
[ Ostcbsr 8, 1891. 
second, Ternae, to those having three leaves in a sheath ; and the 
third, Quinse, Pines with five leaves in a sheath. As examples 
of each the following may be mentioned :—1, P. austriaca, 
P. Laricio, and P. sylvestris ; 2, P. insignis, P. macrocarpa, and 
P. ponderosa ; 3, P. Cembra, P. Lambertiana, and P. Strobus. 
The next large group or tribe is the Taxodiese which, besides 
the Taxodiums from which its name is derived, includes the 
Wellingtonia and Cryptomerias, besides some genera of little 
importance in British gardens. Sciadopitys, Glyptostrobus, Cun- 
ningbamia, and Athrotaxis. 
The Cypress tribe, the Cupressinae, include eight genera, mostly 
composed of smaller growing species well adapted for lawns. They 
are as follows :—Cupressus, Retinospora, Biota, Thuia, Thuiopsis ) 
Libocedrus, Fitzroya, and Juniperus, the only ones requiring sub¬ 
division being the members of the last-named genus, which are 
classed as Common Junipers (Oxycedri), the Savin Junipers 
(Sabinse), and the Cypress-like Junipers. 
The Yews (Taxinese) comprise Taxus, Cephalotaxi3, Torreya, 
Ginkgo, Saxegothaea, Prumnopitys, and Podocarpus, all of some 
interest, but with the exception of the first-named comparatively 
rare in cultivation. 
As examples of the principal types mentioned, and to show the 
range of cone variation, we give illustrations of the following 
species: —Abies Alcoquiana (fig. 58, page 301), a beautiful 
Japanese Spruce Fir, which often exceeds 100 feet in height in its 
native land. Abies Yeitchi (fig. 59, page 303), a Silver Fir from 
Japan, introduced in 1879, an extremely beautiful species, also 
attaining 100 feet in height, but only represented by moderate 
sized specimens in this country yet. A bus firma (fig. GO, page 305), 
one of the same group as the last, also from Japan, and like the 
two preceding introduced to Britain by Messrs. J. Yeitch & Sons. 
It is a common tree in Japan, and forms a handsome specimen. 
Pinus pondercsa (fig. 61, page 307).—This massive Western 
American Pine is one of the introductions by Douglas, quite hardy 
in England, and rather effective in some places. Sciadopitys 
vertieillata (page 62, page 308), the Umbrella Pine of Japan, makes 
but little progress in this country, and though it is said to reach 
the height of 100 feet, we have seen specimens which in the past 
ten years do not seem to have grown 6 inches. It is, how¬ 
ever, very interesting, and the illustration was prepared from 
imported cones. 
Cupressus funebris (fig. 61, page 311), a Chinese species, intro¬ 
duced by Fortune, though known for many years. It is very 
distinct, but not hardy except in extreme south situations. Juni¬ 
perus sphserica is also one of Fortune’s introductions from China, 
somewhat intermediate in habit between J. chinensis and J. 
pksenicea. Thuiopsis dolobrata (fig. 65, page 313) is a handsome 
member of the Cypress tribe, which is now well known in British 
gardens, and many fine specimens can be seen. 
As an illustration of the fine proportions some Conifers assume 
in England, we are enabled by the courtesy of Messrs. J. Yeitch 
and Sons to give a woodcut from their useful “ Manual of the 
Conifer®,” depicting a magnificent specimen of Thuia gigantea 
(T. Lobbi) in the gardens at Linton Park, near Maidstone, the 
residence of F. G. W. Cornwallis, Esq. When measured in 1881 
this beautifully proportioned tree was 50 feet high, it is now 65 
feet high, 6 feet in girth at 5 feet from the ground, and 19 feet 
6 inches in the spread of its branches. Yery rarely is such a speci¬ 
men se n, yet there are many other grand Conifers in Linton 
Gardens, to which fuller reference will be made another week. 
It may be added that the Conference at Chiswick yesterday 
(Wednesday) comprised the following addresses : — Opening 
Address on the Special Features of Interest in the Order of 
Coniftrs, by D •. Maxwell T. Masters, F.R.S., Chairman; “Japa¬ 
nese, Chinese, and Californian Conifers,” by Mr. H. J. Yeitch, 
F.L.S. ; “ Conifers as Specimen Trees and for Landscape Garden- 
ing,” by Mr. Geo. Nicholson, A.L.S. ; “ Conifers for Timber 
aid in Plantations,” by Mr. A. D. Webster; “The Decorative 
Character of Conifers,” by Mr. Edmund J. Baillie, F.L.S. ; 
“ Conifers at Bicton, Devor,” by the Hon. Mark Rolle : “ Conifers 
at Dropmore,” by Mr. Chas. Heriin. To-day (Thuisday) it will 
be resumed at 2 p.m., when the undermenticned papers will he 
read :—Opening Address, by Prof. Bajley Balfour, F.R.S , Chair¬ 
man ; “ The Yalue in the British Islands of Introduced Conifers,” 
by Mr. Malcolm Dunn, F.R.II.S. ; “ The Quality of Coniferous 
Timber as Affected by Sylvicultural Treatment,” by Dr. Wm. 
Somerville ; “ The Timber of Exotic Conifers Grown in Scotland : 
Its Uses and Comparative Ya’uq” by Mr. D. F. Mackenzie ; 
“Fungoid and other Diseases of Conifers,” by Prof. Marshall 
Ward, M.A, F.L.S.; “Insects Injurious to Conifers,” by Mr. 
W. F. H. Blandford, M.A. 
CINERARIAS DURING AUTUMN AND 
WINTER. 
The whole stock of these plants should now receive a thorough 
overhauling, ready to be placed in their winter quarters, and except 
in severe winters like the last, they may be successfully cultivated 
in cold pits up to the time when the flowers begin to open. Only 
once during the last eight years have we lest more than 1 or 
2 per cent, through frost and damp among plants wintered in cold 
pits, and even during the protracted winter of 1890-91 very few of 
our plants were killed, although the foliage was disfigured. I 
mention this to show that numbers of cold pits which during the 
autumn months are in many gardens empty may be turned to good 
account, and that, moreover, such a position is much better for 
the plants than those they often occupy in vineries and other 
structures where they are a long way from the glass and crowded. 
It is generally an easy matter to find room for large numbers of 
Cinerarias during the summer months when they a’e in a small 
state ; but when the dewy nights of autumn come, as well as many 
dull moist days, these plants grow with wonderful rapidity under- 
such conditions before very severe frosts set in, and unless cold 
pits are utilised during the next three months, not nearly so large 
a quantity can be grown as would prove acceptable during the 
spring months. 
Any strong plants that are now in the right condition at the 
roots—that is, with a good number of them showing round the 
outside of the ball without being matted together, shculd be 
shifted into their largest pots, the size of which must, of course, be 
regulated by the dimensions of those they now occupy, but pots 
two sizes large will, in the majority of cases, suffice. Where any 
plants are extra strong they will be all the better for being placed 
in pots one size larger than those the less vigorous ones receive. A 
compost of turfy loam two parts, leaf soil one part, and spent 
Mushroom dung one part, with sharp sand, wood allies, and a 5-icch 
potful of scot to a barrowful of the other ingredients added, 
is one in which the plants will make satisfactory progress. As the 
potting proceeds keep a sharp look out for traces of mildew, which 
can easily be stamped out now by applying a little sulphur to the 
under side of the leaves. Those plants that are repotted should be 
placed in a pit by themselves, so that they may be kept without 
bottom air for a time, but at this time of year I find the repotted 
plants do better with a little top ventilation left on constantly, 
except frosty nigh's, than when they are quite closed in the after¬ 
noon, as in the summer time. 
A good hard base formed of coal ashes is the best material I 
know of to stand the pots upon. A very important po'nt is to 
give the plants plenty of room when arranged. The leaves of 
adjoining plants should in no case be nearer to each other at the 
points than 3 or 4 inches ; this will allow plenty of light and air 
to play around them, and so induce a sturdy growth with leaves 
thick and leathery. Such plants can withstand the effects of a 
low temperature much better than those that have been drawn up 
with thin leaves and attenuated stems, by reason of their having 
been placed too close together, and, moreover, they are far less 
liable to injury from damp when plenty ( f room is given ; indeed 
overcrowding the plants is one of the principal causes, the con¬ 
densed moisture being so long in escaping. 
Having potted and arranged the strongest]: lan ts those remaining 
should also be re-arranged after raking the ashes, and if they are 
in the least green adding a coating of fresh ones to have a 1 ! sweet 
and clean, and as a p even ive against the attacks o r slugs dust the 
surface of the ashes with soot. Also take special care that the 
plants have p’enty of r om. If gardeners would only keep this 
point firmly fixed in their minds and act up to if, dwaif sturdy 
Cinerarias with thick leathery leaves w.uld be mere plentifu 1 , and 
drawn weakly ones proportionally lets. If it is found that more 
