CHAPTER EIGHTEEN 



CEDARS 



High on a hill a goodly cedar grewe, 



Of wondrous length and streight proportions, 



That far abroad her daintie odors threwe. 



SPENSER 



IN our country the 

 term cedar is applied to 

 a number of trees that 

 belong to different but 

 closely related groups. 

 They are noted for their 

 fragrant and durable 

 wood, which in most 

 species has a reddish 

 color. The famous 

 cedar of Lebanon, 

 which was so highly 

 prized in the time of 

 Solomon and is still 

 venerated by the Arabs, 

 is a relative of our cedars. So is the Himalayan cedar, 

 or deodar, which is venerated by the Hindus. Both of 

 these cedars are evergreens and produce cones 4 inches 

 or more in length. In Australia and in various tropical 

 countries are different trees which on account of their 

 scented wood are known as cedars, but they do not bear 

 cones and are not related to the cedars of the United 

 States. 



Red cedar. The wood of the eastern red cedar, or 

 juniper, is straight, fine grained, and easily whittled. 

 It is used in making most of our lead pencils, and for 



FIG. 72. 



U. S. Forest Service 

 An eastern red cedar or juniper. 



