190 SYLVA AMERICANA. 



the vegetation of the red cedar is that of its branches, which are 

 numerous and close, spring near the earth and spread horizontally, 

 and that the lower limbs are during many years as long as the 

 body of the tree. Its diameter is very much diminished by deep, 

 oblong crevices, in every part of the trunk, which are occasioned 

 by the large branches persisting after they are dead. The 

 foliage is evergreen, numerously subdivided, and composed of 

 small, sharp scales, enchased in one another. The male and 

 female flowers are small, not conspicuous, and borne separately 

 on the same or on different stocks, and put forth in May or June. 

 The seeds are small, ovate berries, bluish when ripe, and covered 

 with a white exudation. They arrive at maturity about the 

 beginning of autumn. 



The perfect wood of this tree is of a bright reddish tint, hence 

 the name Red Cedar ; the sap is perfectly white. The wood is 

 odorous, compact, fine-grained and very light, though heavier 

 and stronger than that of the white cedar or cypress. To these 

 qualities it unites the still more precious character of durability, 

 and is consequently highly esteemed for such objects as' require 

 it in an eminent degree. But as it is procured with difficulty, 

 and is every day becoming scarcer, it is reserved exclusively for 

 the most important purposes. In the upper part of the frame of 

 vessels it is joined with the live oak to compensate its excessive 

 weight, and this usage more than any other, has wasted the 

 species. The nearer this tree grows to the sea, and the farther 

 southward, the better the w T ood. Next to ship building it is 

 commonly used for posts, which are highly esteemed and are 

 reserved for inclosing court yards and gardens in the cities and 

 their vicinity, and likewise for the posts and rails of rural fence. 

 It is eminently fitted for subterranean water pipes, but is rarely 

 employed from the difficulty of obtaining stocks of sufficient 

 diameter. It is also employed for small tubs, which are hooped 

 with brass, and is used in the manufacture of lead pencils. It is 

 likewise used by turners for large stop cocks. The foliage of 

 this tree diffuses a resinous, aromatic odor when bruised ; dried 

 and reduced to powder it has the same effect as the common 

 juniper, of increasing the efficacy of blister plasters. The 



