Juniperus sabina and its cultivars are again predominately low, spreading shrubs, perhaps best described as mini versions of 'Pfitzerana'. J. sabina 'Tamariscifolia' is by far the best and quickly grows into an excellent 9 to i2in(23 to 30cm) high grey-green carpet. This cultivar is the best choice to cover an unsightly drain and it has, of course, many other uses. scopulorum, a native of the western half of the United States, makes a narrow pyramid of medium height. Many named selections of this species have been made by American growers, most of them silver-grey pyramids with an ultimate height of 2oft(6m) or thereabouts. It will be clear by now that grey-green and grey-blue are the predominant colours of conifers, and squamata is no exception for there are some outstanding "blues" among its forms. 'Meyeri' grows fairly rapidly to a height of 10 to i2ft(3 to 3.75m) and is, perhaps, the finest of all blue conifers of moderate size. 'Blue Carpet', as its name suggests, is quite prostrate and 'Blue Star' is a slow-growing, compact shrub of 2 by 2ft(6o by 60cm), a true dwarf and a very good blue.LARIX (larch) The larches, (members of the genus Larix) which are deciduous conifers, are beautiful, both in their spring green and gblden autumm colour. The gardener should be aware, however, that all larches eventually grow to a large size and they are also the hungriest of trees. METASEQUOIA (dawn redwood) The dawn redwood, Metasequoia glyptostro-boides, is more than worthy of mention here. Like the larches, it is deciduous, and it requires a good moisture-retaining soil. Like the larches, too, the young growth is most attractive. The autumn colour is orange-brown and adds much to the garden scene at that time. This fossil-age tree was introduced into British gardens in 1948, having, as mentioned earlier, been re-discovered in China in 1941. The tallest trees in cultivation are now 6oft(i8m) or so tall and narrowly pyramidal in outline. PICEA (spruce) The spruces, Picea species, are all narrowly or broadly pyramidal in outline. Most species are very ornamental but, sadly, are unsuitable for smaller gardens. Several of the species have a number of forms in the smaller tree category, however, and there are numerous dwarf and slow-growing selections. Picea abies, the Norway spruce (which is familiar to everybody as the Christmas tree), rapidly attains a height of iooft(3om) or more and is widely planted by foresters. It has a very large number of dwarf and slow-growing forms ranging from the diminutive 'Little Gem', eventually 9 to i2in(23 to 30cm) high and i5in(38cm) across, to 'Remontii' which will grow to a compact 6ft(2m) with, needless to state, forms of every size and shape in between these two. Among the smaller, tall cultivars 'Aurea' is a pretty golden form; 'Cupressina', a distinctive narrow form; 'Finedonensis', a silver form of the greatest charm, and f. pendula Tnversa', pendulous in habit. Рг'сея brewerana is always in demand, attaining eventually a height of 45ft(i4m) or a little more.