CEDAR OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 99 



Leviticus, where we find that Moses directs the Israelites to take 

 cedar wood. What this cedar was it is impossible to say, but 

 considering that the Israelites were then in the wilderness, and 

 the principal trees of that country were the Shittah (a species of 

 Acacia), and several species of Juniper, such as Juniperus oxy- 

 cedrus, J. phoenicea, and J. sabina, it is supposed by most Bible 

 commentators that it was the wood of one or other of these that 

 was known to Moses by the name of Cedar, in Hebrew Ures. 

 The next mention of cedar trees is that Hiram, King of Tyre, 

 sent cedar trees to David, and that his son Solomon made an 

 engagement with him to hew him cedar trees out of Lebanon. 



There can be no doubt that these trees are the same as those 

 that now exist on Lebanon, and have in modern times become 

 known as the Cedars of Lebanon, in botany called Cedrus lihani. 

 It is recorded to have been introduced to this country in 1683, 

 where it soon became a favourite, and was extensively planted 

 in parks and gardens, and old and very large trees are found in 

 various parts of the country. Its timber is not much valued 

 with us; but at one time it was considered well adapted for 

 natural history cabinets, its scent being supposed to be hurtful 

 to insects. But in time it was found that the specimens became 

 covered with a resinous deposit. 



Cedar, Deodar, also called Indian Cedar {Cedrus Deodara), 

 a large tree, said to attain the height of 100 feet, native of the 

 Himalaya Mountains, similar in habit of growth to the cedar of 

 Lebanon, and by some supposed to be only a variety. Its timber 

 is much valued and used in India. It was introduced in 1831, 

 and the original plant may now be seen, as well as many other 

 fine specimens, growing at Kew. At Dropmore a tree has 

 attained the height of 60 feet. 



Cedar, Atlas {Cedrus atlantica), a tree similar to the two 

 preceding, native of the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa. It 

 was introduced into this country about 1840. A plant at Kew has 

 attained the height of 30 feet. It is supposed by some botanists 

 that the three forms here described — namely, C. lihani, C. Deodara, 

 and C, atlantica — are only varieties of one species, but their 



