GENUS CEDRUS. 27 



ally, and are quite flat, generally in distinct tiers, but some- 

 times scattered irregularly over the trunk, and long in 

 proportion to the height of the tree ; while the foliage is 

 deep grass green, thickly set, each leaf i inch long, and 

 sharply pointed. 



Cones are abundantly produced, each being 4 inches long 

 by about half that in diameter. The timber, though not much 

 in demand in this country, is excellent in quality, and stands 

 the changes from damp to drought in rather a commendable 

 manner. This, however, is dwelt on at length in the chapter 

 devoted to the timbers of coniferous trees. 



C. Libani arg^entea is certainly a distinct and de- 

 sirable variety, with foliage of silvery whiteness ; but several 

 specimens that I have examined under this name should really 

 be assigned to the glaucous form of the Mount Atlas cedar. 



C. Libani brevifoiia has shorter leaves than the 

 species, but in my opinion it is a decidedly inferior tree in 

 point of ornament. 



C. Libani decidua is one of the most interesting and 

 remarkable of the many varieties of the tree. Though the 

 whole of the foliage is not shed at the same time, still, 

 sufficient is to warrant the use of the name deciduous, and 

 some curious errors have been made by supposing the tree to 

 be dying off, or in a bad state of health. The largest specimen 

 I have seen is growing on Lord Derby's property in Kent, 

 and where for many years I have noticed the late autumn 

 shedding of the foliage, curiously bare appearance of the tree 

 in winter, and shooting forth of the young leaves in spring. 

 Further than the annual casting of the leaves, I could detect 

 no difference between the species and variety either in the 

 male or female cones, or in the length or colour of foliage ; 

 generally, however, the leaves are shorter, and the cones 

 sparsely produced, when compared with the ordinary run of 

 Lebanon cedars. The specimen referred to was in perfect 

 health, and about 65 feet high. 



C. Libani nana. This is of very dwarf growth, speci- 

 mens upwards of twenty years old being only 4 feet in height, 



