246 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



Swamp in Yirginia it is more abundant than 

 any other tree, except the cypress. Its height 

 is about seventy feet, and the thickness of its 

 trunk three or three and a half; it is straight 

 and free from branches until within twenty 

 feet of the top. When cut, it yields a yellow 

 transparent turpentine that has a pleasant 

 smell ; but the quantity is very small. The 

 leaves are quite different from those of the 

 cypress, being, as I told you, composed of 

 very small scales, and branching out in vari- 

 ous directions like coral. The greatest point 

 of resemblance is in the cones, which are shaped 

 exactly like those of the cypress, but are a 

 great deal smaller, — not much larger than a 

 pea. The wood is light, soft, fine-grained, 

 and easy to cut ; you can try it for yourselves, 

 however, for it is of cedar-wood that lead 

 pencils are generally made ; its colour is 

 rosy, and it has a pleasant smell. It resists 

 moisture remarkably well, and for this reason, 

 as well as its lightness, it is much used for 

 shingles. Vast quantities of it are also made 

 into pails, and tubs, and churns. In New- 

 Jersey the farmers prefer cedar- wood for the 

 posts of their fences : these posts will last fifty 

 or sixty years ; and besides all this, it makes 



