266 TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [CHAP. 



measured respectively about 37 and 34 inches in diameter, 

 and were making wood at the rate of I inch of diameter 

 in about 2^ years. If this rate of growth is applied to 

 the largest of the trees which Maundrell mentions that 

 he saw upon Mount Lebanon, it would show them to be 

 only about 350, or, at the most, 400 years old ; and it is 

 probable that this is somewhere about the limit of age 

 which the Cedar trees attain, and not 3,000 years, as has 

 been asserted. 



The rapid growth of the Cedar tree is borne out by 

 the careful examination of some logs brought from Hon- 

 duras, which were found to exhibit a rate of growth even 

 quicker than those mentioned, the concentric rings show- 

 ing that I inch of wood diameter was made in rather 

 less than two years. 



We know very little of the quality of the timber of 

 the Cedar of Lebanon ; it is too scarce to find its way 

 in any quantity into the markets of this country. 



THE CUBA, HONDURAS, AND MEXICAN CEDARS 



are varieties of the Ccdrela odorata, but in their nature 

 and condition of growth are very different from the Abies 

 Cednis of Lebanon, which flourishes best with plenty of 

 room and in open grounds, whilst those of the West 

 Indies and Central America appear to prefer a closer 

 situation, and attain the greatest perfection in the 

 forests. Many of these are very fine trees, capable of 

 yielding well-squared logs of timber, 12 to 24 inches on 

 the side by 18 to. 40 feet in length, and even these 

 dimensions are occasionally exceeded. Smaller timber 

 is brought in considerable quantities into the market, 

 the whole finding a ready sale among cabinet-makers 

 and with those engaged in the manufacture of cigar- 

 boxes and similar articles. 



