■V- r 



2ld »ESCRlt»TION OF THB 1^1R«. 



vessels, workiog them in and out like basket work, thtf» 

 binding them to the middle wood vessel. But bo sooner 

 are the leaves formed, though ever so diminutive, than the 

 ^Ik shoots, carrying up the leaves with it, and another 

 general calyx forms round the parcel of leaves ; the single 

 calyxes remaining to bring out fresh ones, and to serve to co- 

 ver the new stalk. The edges of the leaves are formed very 

 differently from those of the pines. A parcel of threads, 

 very clear, and apparently full of water, are found shooting 

 by the side, and binding themselves to the leaf by a single 

 thread. In some of the real cedars there are two, in some 

 three, and in the larch four of these vessels. 

 Peculiarity in There is a peculiarity in the cedar of Lebanon so very 

 t ece arot extraordinary it must not be passed over. The upper cover- 

 ing of the trunk of the tree seems as if too long for it, and 

 sits in high ridges all the way, appearing as though, it 

 stretched out in length, it would be as long again. It 

 would be very ini^tructive to know whether this is the case 

 in its native land. I have lon;^ been seeking for the ball und 

 >sbcket found in some plaiits, and peculiarly marked in some 

 Tirs, where the branches have missed. In the cedar I was 

 much struck with this appearance, and resolved to try whe- 

 ther I could find the balj. On cutting round it, it moved 

 under my hand, and I found it was easily taken out. I 

 have now procured ten of them, some formed like a pointed 

 top, some merely circular, but the bark and rind, instead 

 of being, like that of the rest of the tree, formed of thick- 

 ' ened leaves, are divided into narrow slips of bark and> rind, 

 ' rolled, and covering it like basket work. 

 Another pecu* There is also another peculiarity never seen in our forest 

 lianty. trees, and which appears to belong only to the exotic trees; 



a projection round the part where the branches first shoot. 

 * if they have it not in their own climate, it may be an in- 

 crease to strengthen tbem, weakened by growing in a foreign 

 country. ' - . . 



Fructification. I shall not occupy your p!%es with describing at length 

 ^ ' the fructification of the cedar, as its process very nearly re-* 



sembles the account already given ; but mention only, that 

 Abundance of its cone is extremely large and solid, and appears to con- 

 tanniii. tain 'a greatei: quantity of the tanning principle than any 



••' ' - ' other 



I 



