SACRED AND CLASSICAL PLANTING. 



their last resting-place. Thus, " Let us have the field, and the cave which is therein; 

 and all the trees that are in the fidd, and that are in the borders round about; and let 

 them be made sure for a possession to us." In classic Greece, whether on her hills, be- 

 side her streams or mossy fountains, trees had a prominence and importance such as thej'' 

 never had since. In that countr}', nature was not only allowed to make herself heard and 

 seen, but she was energetically encouraged. Her umbrageous valleys and odoriferous up- 

 lands were filled with gods. Woodland temples rose on all hands. Every leaf which 

 expanded itself was appropriated to religion; so that, independent of her usual verdant 

 covering, she wore here a rich mythological tissue. Hence it was that a wreath of an 

 evergreen formed the noblest reward that could be conferred on the most distinguished 

 citizens. That circumstance alone will give all " possible eternitie" to the laurel. 



One of the first trees in sacied association is the Cedar, a native of a loft}^ ridge of 

 mountains in Syria. In winter Lebanon is always clad with snow, which, towards the 

 north-east, where it is sheltered from the sea breezes and sunshine, remains sometimes 

 during the whole year. The tree is therefore perfectly hardy in the climate of England, 

 and is, of course, appropriate for that description of planting now under review. Perhaps 

 the most promising )^oung plantations of this tree in Britain are those of Sir George Mac- 

 pherson Grant, of Ballindalloch, in the north of Scotland. The cedars are planted on 

 the sides of sand}"- hills, which before were partially covered with trees sufficient to cause 

 shelter, but not so close as to interfere with the proper development of the cedars. This, 

 in my opinion, is the best way to get up a crop of this tree; for it is naturall}^ disposed 

 to become merely a spreading bush, without any stem; but when the chief supply of air 

 is overhead, it naturally forms a good leading shoot. Technically, it requires to be drawn 

 up. A new and grand feature in scenery is sure to be the result of an elevated plantation 

 of this tree in maturit}'. 



Gazing upon this object, the reflections which it excites are numerous: It was seen 

 from Jerusalem, casting a " weight of glory" over the lofty mountains which environed 

 that city like a magnificent rampart. It grew on that site whence the eye commanded a 

 spectacle more glorious, perhaps, than was ever enjoyed from any other spot on the globe, 

 embracing a view almost without interruption from the waters of the Mediterranean to 

 the confines of the Persian Gulph. It was peculiarly the tree of Palestine. It was the 

 belief, that God loved it more than any other tree. It was seen on all the hills of the 

 holy cit}'', — planted extensively by Solomon around his seat there, and personal!}^ recom- 

 mended by him, as a most desirable ornament throughout Judea. Figuratively, this plant 

 seems to have formed the general standard of excellence, — the Hebrew poets having had 

 continual recourse to it as a fitting source of illustration. Had the graces of the church 

 to be described, it was by a reference to Lebanon and its cedars; — the prosperity of the 

 righteous, it was by a metaphor borrowed from this tree — " He shall grow as the cedar 

 of Lebanon." Whatever was comely and majestic in the human countenance, or what- 

 ever commanded the love and reverence of the beholder, was aptly illustrated by this 

 celebi-ated object. To see Lebanon and its cedars was, in ancient times, accounted a great 

 privilege; and the anxious desire with which Moses and the people of Isreal, whilst jour- 

 neying in Egypt, looked forward to this favored part of the Land of Promise, ma}' be 

 gathered from the earnest language of the patriarch: — " I pray thee," he saj's, "let me 

 go over and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, thatgoodl}' mountain, and Lebanon." 



In its living state, the cedar, no doubt, conferred a very peculiar and striking character 

 scenery of the east; its depth of green, and the disposition of its branches, r 

 for glory and beauty" unequalled amongst all the objects of the vegetable 



