FOREIGN NOTICES. 



Cedar of Lebanon, are the generally greater leagth of the leaves of the latter, and a considerable 

 difference of habit. This difference of general aspect will, we believe, be found to be the ground 

 on which most observers rest their belief of the distinctness of the two trees. But though 

 variations in this respect may be admitted as a prima facie indication that specific differences 

 exist, yet they are in themselves no proof of such difference ; and if a minute comparison of two 

 supposed species fails to show any peculiarities of structure, mere size of parts and mode of 

 growth cannot of themselves make two plants distinct. We all know how variable our forest 

 trees are in these points ; coniferous trees, indeed, to a greater extent than most others ; and it 

 would be within every one's experience that the Deodar is one of the most variable of a variable 

 tribe. This may be well seen in any extensive plantation of Deodars, and any one may satisfy 

 himself that it is the case by a visit to the fine avenue of these trees in Kew Gardens, in which 

 may be seen many trees which are quite intermediate between the original state of the Deodar 

 and the common Cedar, and one or two, which botli iu mode of growth and in rigidity and size 

 of leaves, are almost identical with the Cedar of Lebanon. As permanency is the only test that 

 can be applied to estimate the value of distinguisliing characters, the occurrence of these inter- 

 mediates forms the strongest argument against the distinctness of the two species ; and if future 

 observations should show a still further approximation of characters, what is now only probable 

 will become a matter of certainty. It is, however, a very curious fact that the Cedar is in this 

 country mucli less liable to vary than the Deodar; and it has been suggested to us by a practical 

 gardener of great experience, that the explanation of this may be found in the fact that all our 

 Cedars descend from one common stock, or, at least, are derived from the same district in Lebanon, 

 while the seeds of the Deodar are collected fi om widely distant parts of the great Himalayan chain. 



"Indian travelers unanimously testify that the Deodar is one of the most variable trees in its 

 native country. Though probably confined entirely to the western and drier Himalaya, and not 

 being known to occur iu a wild state in any part of the chain east of the Ganges, it has a wide 

 range in altitude, growing equally in warm and sheltered valleys as low as 5,000 feet, and on 

 exposed slopes at a height of 12,000 feet, where, notwithstanding the elevation, the warm dry 

 summer enables it to ripen its wood sufficiently to resist the intense cold of winter. In its native 

 forests, we are assured that the Deodar is a tall conical tree, rising to a height of 100 to 150 feet, 

 and sending out horizontal branches in all directions ; or at times dividing close to the base into 

 two or three trunks, which ascend parallel to one another to a great height. It is, however, also 

 common in a state of cultivation, being generally planted near temples In the province of Kumaon, 

 in which it is nowhere indigenous. There, probably, from its isolated mode of growth, as the 

 same thing is observed wherever trees grow in exposed situations, it has a quite different shape. 

 Low and flat-topped it rises to no great height, but sends out long straight branches, which bend 

 downwards and often sweep the ground. The Cedar of Lebanon is also well known to us from 

 the accounts of travelers, who have observed it in its native forests, and from their descriptions 

 we learn that it is there often a very different tree from that familiar to us in this country, being 

 tall and straight, with horizontal branches, forming a beautiful cone. 



"The peculiar glaucous hue so characteristic of the earliest imported Deodars is not only not 

 constant iu the species, being absent in many of the varieties which have already arisen in this 

 country, und unquestionably not present in adult trees in a wild state, but it occurs in some states 

 of the Cedar. It cannot, therefore, though it forms the most striking distinguishing mark by 

 which the Deodar is ordinarily recognised, be regarded as anything more than a very striking 

 instance of the amount of variation to which species are subject, unless we assume what no one, 

 we think, would be inclined to do, that the true Cedar, as well as the Deodar, is a native of the 

 mountains of northern India. 



"We have purposely abstained from taking into consideration the geographical distribution of 

 the two trees, as any argument founded on it would be inconclusive. It may, however, be noticed 

 as corroborative of the view which we have been led to adopt, that the Deodar in India is 

 exclusively confined to the western part of the Himalayan chain, and is especially abundant in 

 the mountains of Kashmir, and that it extends thence into the mountains of Affghanistan. The 

 hilly districts of eastern Tersia are not, it would appear, suflriciently elevated for coniferous 

 vegetation, nor is there at present any reason to suppose that any species of Cedar exists in 



