322 CEDRELA CEDRUS 



short-stalked (not yet seen in this country). Fruit a capsule about 

 i in. long ; seeds winged. 



Although known to botanists since 1743, this tree was not introduced 

 to Europe until 1862. It was at first called Ailanthus flavescens, by 

 which name it is still sometimes known, but is easily distinguished from 

 true Ailanthus by the entire margins of the leaflets and the absence of 

 glandular teeth there. It is a native of North and West China, and in 

 the latter region many seeds were collected by Wilson on his last journey, 

 so the tree is likely to become more common in future. At present it is 

 rather rare except for newly raised plants. As is the case with nearly all 

 trees of timber-producing size, this is best raised from seed, but failing 

 them, root-cuttings may be employed. The popular name of " Chinese 

 Cedar "refers to its relationship with the "cedar" of the West Indies 

 (Cedrela odorata) ; but it has, of course, no affinity with the true cedars. 

 It is said to thrive well in calcareous soils. The young shoots and 

 leaves are boiled and eaten as a vegetable by the Chinese. 



CEDRUS. CEDARS. CONIFERS. 



A group of three, or, if the Cyprian cedar be regarded as more than a 

 variety, four species of evergreen trees, forming a very homogeneous group. 

 They are as closely allied to each other as they are markedly distinct 

 from other coniferous trees. Sir Joseph Hooker and other authorities 

 regarded them all as geographical forms of one species. Most closely 

 allied to them are the larches, deciduous though these are. Given space 

 for lateral development, old cedars become flat-topped, and their branches 

 grow horizontally. As in the larches and some other conifers, the 

 branchlets are of two kinds: (i) leading ones, which grow considerably 

 (at least several inches) during the summer, and bear the leaves singly 

 and spirally arranged; and, (2) short, spur-like ones, which lengthen a 

 fraction of an inch only per annum, and have the leaves crowded in a 

 dense tuft at .the end. The latter kind are capable of developing into the 

 former. Flowers of both sexes appear on the same tree, usually on the 

 upper side of the branches. Males very densely set in erect, finger-shaped 

 cones, 2 to 3 ins. long; J to f in. wide, shedding clouds of yellow pollen 

 when ripe. Females in stout, erect cones, purplish at first, ultimately 

 3 to 5 ins. long, flat or depressed at the top, the scales broad and closely 

 overlapping ; seeds winged. 



The cedars all like a deep, loamy soil, well-drained but moist. They 

 are admirably adapted for growing as specimen trees on lawns, and for 

 this purpose should be planted when not more than 4 to 6 ft. high. It is 

 necessary to propagate some of the garden varieties by grafting on their 

 typical forms, but they are of little importance. .Trees raised from seed 

 will always grow better and give the greater pleasure. 



The timber of all ttye cedars as produced on their native mountains is 

 valuable, but as grown in our milder, softer climate, it is not so hard and 

 durable. The timber of English-grown Lebanon cedar is sometimes 

 handsomely grained, and may be used for indoor purposes. 



