140 THE FLORIST. 



above the sea; it is found principally in the Central and Western 

 districts, from Nepal to Cashmere and Affghanistan. But although 

 the Deodar grows well at the lower elevations named above, on the 

 sides of the Himalayas, towards the plains of India it flourishes in the 

 greatest luxuriance, and attains the largest size, in the interior, in the 

 midst of the snowy mountains, and close to the hne of perpetual snow. 



Notwithstanding the length and severity of winter in the Deodar 

 districts, the summers are very hot, the sun ha^'ing great power, even 

 at high elevations above the level of the sea; and consequently the 

 Deodar wood gets ripened sufficiently to bear the severe frosts to which 

 it is exposed for five or six months of Himalayan winter. We men- 

 tion this fact, recorded by Sir Wm. Hooker, as worth remembering, for 

 he afterwards states, on the authority of Dr. Hooker, that in the 

 Eastern Himalayas, where the chmate is exceedingly wet, not a single 

 Deodar exists. Thus pro\dng that a dry and warm chmate, for a por- 

 tion of the year at least, is necessary for its gro^vth. 



The Deodar is stated by Major Madden to be " indifferent to soil 

 and substratum ; flourishing equally among the clefts of the most 

 scarped rocks, gneiss, quartz, limestone, granite, clay, and mica slate, 

 as in the black vegetable mould of the brae or glen ; provided always, 

 the surface of the latter slopes to an angle to ensure thorough drainage." 

 A condition, we may observe, essential to Coniferous trees generally, 

 occupying similar sites. 



The Deodar, in its native soil, forms a tree of great size and beauty ; 

 on the lofty ranges of the interior, forests of this tree exist, ^vith trunks 

 of fi'om 15 to 20 feet in circumference, and the dimensions of several 

 trees are given, with the trunks of 33 and 36 feet in circumference, 

 at 4 ft. fi'om the ground, and attaining the height of from 150 to 200 ft. 



The tree is now common to pleasure gi'omids and park scenery, 

 having been introduced in 1818. In its young stage it forms a very 

 graceful tree, owing to its weeping habit, and the light glaucous hue of 

 its fohage, which in healthy specimens is very dense. As an orna- 

 mental tree for the park, lawn, or avenue, it is well suited, and in all 

 situations it is much and deservedly admired. Our engi'a\dng gives a 

 very faithful representation of the general character of the tree after 

 being planted some years. 



From time immemorial the Deodar (as its name implies) has been 

 held sacred by the Hindoos ; and as such it is carefully preserved round 

 their temples ; it has likewise been employed by them extensively in 

 constructing their public buildings, bridges, &c., for hundreds of years, 

 as well as for boat building — facts which sufficiently indicate its value 

 as a timber tree, and as such it stands highest in the estimation of the 

 native builders. The wood is fragrant, and takes a fine polish, resists 

 the attacks of insects (so injurious to timber in India) ; and, abounding 

 in resin, it effectually resists atmospheric changes. In fact, in whatever 

 way we look at it, it must be admitted to be a timber of great value 

 and durability. 



Her IMajesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests have lately 

 imported large quantities of Deodar seed, with the view of sowing it 

 in the Royal forests for naval purposes. On this point we can only 



