ARBORICULTURE. 



a century afterwards. The well-known and mag- 

 nificent larches at Dunkeld, which were first sent 

 to the Duke of Athole, were treated as tender 

 greenhouse plants. They soon became sickly, 

 and at length were consigned to the 'rubbish- 

 heap' as dead. Favoured with fresh air and a 

 showery season, they were observed to push forth 

 new leaves, and were taken and planted out in 

 the open air, where they continued to flourish, 

 and are now the finest specimens in this country. 



The Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus Libant) is re- 

 markable for its long horizontal branches, and the 

 great mass of dark-green spicular foliage with 

 which it is covered. It is a native of the moun- 

 tains of Libanus and other high adjacent regions, 

 where it attains great bulk, and grows to a very 

 great age. From its solemn aspect, it forms a 

 suitable accompaniment to ecclesiastical buildings 

 or cemeteries, and also for sequestered glens in 

 mountain scenery ; it is equally well adapted for 

 extensive lawns. Cedars were introduced into 

 Britain as far back as 1683; and there are but 

 few old country-seats that do not possess some 

 specimens. Many majestic ones are met with in 

 different parts ; but in no situation have they 

 thriven more prosperously than at the celebrated 

 residence of Moor Park, in Hertfordshire. 



Deodar or Sacred Cedar of India (Cedrus 

 Deodard). This is perhaps one of the most 

 beautiful of the whole family of Coniferas, its erect 

 stem, and widely spreading, gracefully curved 

 boughs, drooping at the tips, and clothed with the 

 most beautiful green foliage. It grows on the 

 mountains of Northern India, on heights of 10,000 

 or 12,000 feet. The Hindus hold it in great 

 veneration, calling it the Tree of God. Its wood 

 is so durable, that specimens several hundred 

 years old have been taken from Indian temples 

 quite sound. Although the habit of this tree 

 differs from that of the preceding species, still it 

 is regarded by many botanists as not specifically 

 distinct. It has been largely planted as an orna- 

 mental tree during the last few years, being 

 peculiarly suitable for pleasure-grounds, and espe- 

 cially for lawns and cemeteries. 



Chili Pine (Araucaria imbricatd). This tree 

 is the greatest ornament among conifers ; and is 

 now common in pleasure-grounds. The male 

 tree is said never to exceed 40 or 50 feet in height, 

 while the female often attains 1 50 feet ; but all the 

 specimens in this country are as yet comparatively 

 young. A deep light loamy soil is the most suit- 

 able for this tree. Its wood is yellowish-white, 

 hard and durable. It cannot be said to be quite 

 hardy in Britain, for the early severity of the 

 winter of 1856-57 browned the foliage of many 

 specimens in different parts of the country, with- 

 out, however, affecting their vitality ; and during 

 the severe winter of 1 860-61, many fine specimens 

 were completely killed. 



The Wellington Tree {Wellingtonia (Sequoia) 

 gigantea). This is the great monarch of western 

 forests, its gigantic proportions exceeding those of 

 all other coniferous trees with which we are ac- 

 quainted. It inhabits the elevated slopes of the 

 Sierra Nevada, in latitude 38 north, longitude 

 120 to' west, at an elevation of 5000 feet above ' 

 the sea-level. The trees there observed varied 

 from 250 to 350 feet in height, and from 10 to 20 feet 

 in diameter. One that was felled measured about 

 300 feet in length, with a diameter, including 



bark, of 29 feet 2 inches, at five feet from the 

 ground ; at eighteen feet from the ground, it was 

 14^ feet through ; at one hundred feet from the 

 ground, 14 feet ; and at two hundred feet from 

 the ground, 5 feet 5 inches. The trunk was per- 

 fectly solid. 'What a tree is this!' says Dr 

 Lmdley ; ' of what portentous aspect, and almost 

 fabulous antiquity ! They say that the specimen 

 felled at the junction of the Stanislau and San 

 Antonio was above 3000 years old ; that is to say, 

 it must have been a little plant when Samson was 



The Mammoth Pine ( Wellingtonia (Sequoia) gigantea). 



slaying the Philistines, or Paris running away 

 with Helen, or ^Cneas carrying off good pater 

 Anchises upon his filial shoulders.' 



In this country, the tree is perfectly hardy, and 

 is of rapid growth. It does well in any ordinary 

 description of soil, but luxuriates in a good, deep, 

 moist, loamy soil and sheltered situation. The 

 timber is of a red colour, clean, short-fibred, light 

 and soft, porous and brittle, non-resinous, and 

 non-fragrant, particularly when matured. 



The Yew (Taxus baccata) is more frequently 

 grown as an ornamental than as a forest tree, and, 

 like the cedar, it forms a plant suitable for places 

 consecrated to solemn feeling. Its timber is very 

 tough, and is adapted for making bows and staves, 

 hence it is commonly ranked among hard-wooded 

 trees. As an ornamental tree, it should be fenced 

 round, as its foliage is highly poisonous to horses 

 and cattle ; and being evergreen, is very apt to be 

 browsed upon during the winter. 



Yews are believed to be the most ancient planted 

 trees of Great Britain ; and no doubt can exist 

 that there are individuals of the species in Eng- 

 land as old as the introduction of Christianity, 

 and there is every reason to believe very much 



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