The great plant collectors have been responsible For the introduction of a wealth of species beginning with those from the eastern American seaboard, circa 1600; the cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani, and numerous European species following rapidly. The flow continued with many exciting and very special species being introduced from Asia and Western America, two of the richest areas of the world for conifers suitable for the British Isles. In our own lifetime the fossil-age dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, has appeared, having been rediscovered in China in 1941. While the wild species are of the greatest importance it is from the numerous cultivars (selections made by man in the main in a horticultural and arboricultural environment) that we draw the greatest wealth of conifers for gardens, parks and ornamental plantings. For these we owe much to observant nurserymen and gardeners, both amateur and professional, whose keen eyes have noted, selected, assessed and grown the seedling mutations and sports. From this source have come the great range of dwarf and slow-growing forms, the variegated gold and silver selections, those with fine blue foliage and, perhaps the most important group of all, the cultivars with narrow, upright or weeping habits. Considering the evergreen trees and shrubs which are available for use in our gardens, conifers rank well to the fore. While, in the main, they lack showy flowers their great variety of colour, form and adaptability provides ample compensation. When used in our gardens or, for that matter, in a landscape on a grander scale, one of the main contributions made by conifers is the addition of "strength" to the planting. This is particularly noticeable when they are associated with deciduous trees and shrubs, either intermixed or used as a background. As with any permanent planting the greatest care should be taken when choosing a conifer or group of conifers for a given site. Consideration concerning the speed of growth and ultimate height and spread are of prime importance for it is a sad and all-too-frequent occurrence that the heartbreaking decision has to be made whether or not to remove a tree which has out-grown its allotted position. It is all the more difficult to make such a decision when the tree in question is a stately, well-grown conifer. In view of the slow development of many conifers, and of the fact that they rely so much on having a near-perfect, uncluttered outline, an alternative plan may be adopted. This again needs very careful thought. Having placed the permanent, long-term specimens, short-term additions can be made which will add further enjoyment for a number of years and, of course, act as nurses for the choicer subjects, much as is practised in forestry. In this case, a wide range of ornamental conifers could be used, possibly of lesser value than the main planting. It is imperative that the plan should be adhered to. This plan could also apply to groups of dwarf and slow-growing conifers or stately forest species.