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ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

stances, in a group of trees of other shapes, or to break an outline formedby round-headed low trees or shrubs, the cypress is particularly suitable.It is also, from its narrow form and erect habit of growth, well adapted forsmall suburban gardens, and for planting near buildings, with which, by thecontrast it affords to their horizontal roofs, it harmonises better than mostother trees. It does not, however, thrive so well within the smoke of citiesas the Lombardy poplar. In a picturesque point of view, it may be used inBritain for all those purposes to which we have shown, when treating of theLombardy poplar (see p. 1662 .), that that tree may be applied; but with thisdifference, that, as the cypress is of slower growth than the Lombardy poplar,and docs not attain half its height, the description of round or irregular-headedtrees, with which it is to be associated or contrasted, must be proportion-ately small; and thus, instead of elms, sycamores, and, perhaps, round-headed poplars and pines, must be used, thorns, crabs, sorbs, amelanchiers,cotoneasters, yews, hollies, Portugal laurels, ilexes, &c. Thus far as to thepicturesque uses of the common cypress; but every one knows that thereare certain associations connected with this tree, which are supposed torender it particularly suitable for places of burial. “ If the name of the cypress,”Bose observes, “ calls up gloomy ideas, it is not because its foliage has a sad hue,as is commonly alleged, but because its pyramidal shape, affording a strikingcontrast to the general forms of trees, and its head, occupying but a very limitedspace, and requiring no pruning, have occasioned it, from the earliest times,to be chosen as an object of decoration ; and, as tombs and cemeteries were moredecorated, in the earlier ages, than gardens, the cypress was frequently plantedamong them; till, at last, it has become, in the language of the poets, a symbol ofthe last residence of man. This is so true,” he says, “ that the appearance ofthe cypress produces no gloomy ideas in the minds of the inhabitants of the northof Europe, who only see it in the gardens of the living, or in conservatories ;or on those who see the tree without knowing its name or having read any-thing respecting it. Hence,” he continues, “ it is only in the imaginations ofthose who are prepossessed with the supposed character of this tree, that itis considered an image of sadness : other persons regard it as a very beautifulobject, fit for forming avenues and planting in pleasure-grounds. Singly, andof a large size,” Bose continues, “ the cypress has a grand and very impos-ing appearance. In pots and tubs, it is highly prized both in France and Italy,and is used, along with orange trees, pomegranates, oleanders, &c., for deco-rating churches, and other public buildings, during great fetes; for forminggardens of pots on balconies and on house tops, and even for ornamentingprivate apartments on holidays.” In the Nouveau Du Hamel, the cypressis considered as recommending itself for being planted among tombs by filialpiety, not only from the gloomy aspect of the tree, but on account of its longduration. “ Depuis quelques annees,” the author says, “on reserve uuendroit solitaire dans les pares et lesjardins, pour y placer des urnes et desmonumens funeraires. Le cypres doit y occuper la premiere place : il doitaceompagner de son silence lugubre la retraite paisible des morts. Lorsquetous nos amis nous auront dit un eternel adieu, le cypres fidele nous preterason ombrage. Les urnes, les cercueils, periront: il se renouvellera, pourannoncer aux races futures qu’une main hospitaliere l’a place aupres de nous :il pourra quelquefois leur rappeler les bienfaiteurs de l’humanite.

“ C’est ainsi, Du Hamel, qu’aux jours de l’avenirTes neveux fortunes, plein de ton souvenir,

Sans aller te pleurer au pied d’un mausolee,

S'imagineront voir ton ombre consoleErrer dans les bosquets, sous les arbres cherisQue tes mains ont plantas, que la terre a nourris.”

~ E’pitaphe de Colardeau a Du Hamel de Denainvilliers,

le Frl re de Du Hamel.

Soil, Situation, Propagation, and Culture. Any common garden soil suitsthe cypress; but it attains its largest size in such soils as are rather dry anddeep, and in situations sheltered rather than exposed. It may be propagatedeither by cuttings or seeds ; the former being put in in autumn, and treated like