XXXIL] CEDARS. 267 



The wood is reddish-brown in colour, open and 

 straight in the grain, very porous, soft and spongy in 

 the centre, of light weight, and rather brittle ; large and 

 injurious heart and cup-shakes frequently occur in it. 

 It is deficient in strength, whichever way it is tried, but 

 it works up easily, shrinks only moderately, and stands 

 exceedingly well when seasoned. It is, therefore, of 

 great value to the modeller, the carver, the toy-maker, 

 and the general dealer in light and small wares. Large 

 scantlings cannot, however, be worked out of it for 

 framing in carpentry, neither is it suitable for such 

 employment 



Cedar timber has long enjoyed the reputation of 

 being durable ; and there is no doubt that Solomon 

 obtained the Abies Cedrus for employment in the 

 fitments, if not in the more solid structure, of the 

 Temple at Jerusalem. The wood has a pleasant though 

 peculiar odour, which is obnoxious to insects and vermin, 

 and articles made of this material are practically free 

 from their attacks. 



The specific gravity of well-seasoned Cuba Cedar 

 is about 439. The specific gravities of moderately- 

 seasoned Cuba, Mexican, and Honduras Cedars are 

 respectively 564, 640, and 664. 



THE BERMUDIAN CEDAR (Juniperus Bermudiana) 



is very small, and much lighter than that of Cuba. It 

 was tried experimentally, a few years since, in the 

 building of several brigs and schooners in the royal 

 dockyards, but with only partial success, and the use 

 of it was soon discontinued. It is used in the Bermudas 

 for the building of boats and small vessels, and is in 

 request in this country for the making of pencils. 



The Cedar of Florida is similar in quality and 



