ance, are really nothing
more than forms, "states" the botanists term them, assumed by various
species of Thuya and Cupressus. Strictly speaking, _Retinospora_ has no
separate existence as a genus. This, however, is a botanical phase of
the matter. Horticulturally we are more concerned with such variations
as adapt the plants to various garden purposes. Many quaint and dainty
forms of large trees are very suitable for the rock-garden in
association with other alpine plants. The Common Spruce, for instance,
has given birth to many pigmy forms. The Yew, the Scotch Pine, and
various others have "sported" in a similar way. But no hardy tree varies
so much, perhaps, as the Lawson Cypress when raised from seed. The
species has assumed almost every shade of colour that Conifers do
assume, and every form of growth. Beautiful golden, variegated,
pendulous, and erect varieties have been raised, and not only from the
Lawson Cypress, but from many other Conifers also. The Golden Yews, the
yellow form of the Monterey Cypress, and the golden variety of the
Scotch Pine, may be recommended to those who require this colour,
although in the Pine it only shows itself in winter. The blue-white or
glaucous hue that is more or less present in most Conifers, shows itself
most conspicuously in the Blue Spruce (_Picea pungens glauca_), in
_Cedrus atlantica glauca_, in the new Cork Fir from Arizona (_Abies
lasiocarpa var. arizonica_), and in _Abies concolor violacea_.

THE PROPAGATION OF CONIFERS

Many mistakes have been made in propagating the Coniferae, and to make
matters still worse, the old erroneous doctrines are still preached and
practised. The unpopularity of certain species of Abies, Picea, and
Pinus is due to a great extent to the practice of grafting them on
unsuitable stocks. For instance, the species of Abies are worked on _A.
pectinata_, of Picea on _P. excelsa_, and of Pinus on _P. sylvestris_ or
_P. Laricio_. The varieties of _P. excelsa_ are worked on that species.
_P. excelsa_ is _not_ used for the other forms of spruce Firs to any
great extent. In addition to this, such methods and stocks are still
spoken of as the correct ones to use; though, to take one genus alone,
what kind of a specimen _Abies bracteata_, _A. nobilis_, or _A.
concolor_ would make in twenty years' time if worked on _A. pectinata_
we should not like to say--certainly very poor, even if they lived,
which is doubtful. These are nearly always raised from i