THE CEDAR. 81 



colder rcp:ions, it thrives better in Eng'land. It is 

 very abuiulaiit in the islands al\er which it is named, 

 and lornis there one of the most valuable timber trees. 

 The wood is close-njrained, and has a strong odour, 

 highly oH'ensive to insects ; it is, therefore, well 

 adapted for furniture in warm climates. 



The Red Cedar (Jiinipenis Virginiana) is a 

 native of North America, the West India islands, 

 and Japan. In Jamaica, it grows to a very large 

 size, and forms one of the best timber trees in the 

 island. It is close and firm, though easily split; the 

 internal wood is dark red, and the odour of it is very 

 strong, so that it answers well for the internal parts of 

 cabinet-work, as well as for the wainscoting of rooms. 

 The common juniper is a shrub found in most of 

 the cold parts of Europe. It seldom (with the excep- 

 tion of a variety found in Sweden) deserves to be 

 called a tree ; but the wood that it does produce is 

 compact and fragrant ; and the berries, which take two 

 years to grow, are employed in the arts. 



SUBSTANCES, EXTR.\CTED FROM THE PINES AND 



THE KINDRED TRIBES, AND MADE USE 



OF IN THE ARTS. 



There are very few of this numerous order of trees 

 that, in addition to their timber, do not afford some 

 substance valuable to man. 



The common pine yields turpentine by incision 

 into the living tree; and tar is made by distilling 

 billets of the wood in an oven. This tar, being 

 boiled to evaporate the water, forms pitch. The 

 goodness of the timber determines the goodness of 

 the extract ; — that of Norway being better than that 

 of Scotland or of Canada, although, from the inferior 

 value of the timber in the latter place, tar may be pro- 

 cured much cheaper. It is probable that tar and pitch 

 may be obtained from the whole family of the pines. 



