aristata, the bristle-cone pine, is indeed a native of such conditions in the south-western states of the United States. Specimens in the wild are reputed to be the oldest living things in the world. Seed-raised stock is available in the nursery trade which will grow into bushy gnarled specimens of great character. A pretty grey-blue they will eventually grow to 8 to ioft(2.5 to 3m) in height if grown in full exposure in gardens. The five-needled species are certainly the most attractive of the pines; sadly, most such species are too large for smaller gardens; P. cembra, the arolla pine, is a possible exception and should be considered for planting. It will eventually attain a height of 4oft(i2m) and is columnar in habit. A few selections are offered occasionally, including a good blue, 'Glauca'. Pinus densiflora is the Japanese red pine and is characteristically seen in photographs and paintings of the Japanese landscape as a bushy specimen, almost bonsai-like in general appearance. The species will become large in our conditions but there is an excellent slow-growing form, 'Umbraculifera', which eventually grows into an umbrella-like shrub of 6 to 8ft(2 to 2.5m) in height. It is a fine plant. There is an ever-increasing number of selections of P. mugo, the dwarf mountain pine, many superb dwarfs of great charm and value which should be used, with care, in the rock garden and similar limited spaces. The species, when seed raised, is used in great quantities as a ground-cover subject by local authorities. The five-needled P. parviflora, or Japanese white pine, is a superb smaller species of irregular outline. Once again the enthusiasts (in this case Japanese enthusiasts) have named countless forms, many differing but slightly and most with difficult Japanese names. Keep a look out for the best of these forms when visiting nurseries and garden centres. Inevitably, our native Scots pine, P. sylvestris, has a number of selections to its credit, and many are really first-rate dwarfs, ranging from near prostrate forms to those attaining 6 to 8ft(2 to 2.5m) in height. P. sylvestris 'Aurea' is taller, very slowly attaining a height of 3oft(9m). It is a most attractive small, bushy tree. In summer a normal grey-green, as winter approaches it gradually changes colour over-all to a lovely clear gold, returning to its usual colouring in spring-a most exciting happening. Pseudotsuga The mighty Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, is an important forestry tree, particularly in areas of higher rainfall. There are dwarf and slower growing forms and one, a fine compact blue form, P. menziesii TTetcheri', will eventually grow into a flat-topped, irregularly rounded specimen of 6 to 8ft(2 to 2.5m) tall and wide. One or two other distinctive forms may crop up in the nursery trade from time to time. Sequoia With its great size the giant redwood, Sequoia sempervirens, has no place here but it does have a form of considerably lesser stature, 'Adpressa', which will attain 5oft(i5m) in height eventually.