PINE FAMILY 



They have much in common ; both are evergreens of 

 formal habit. The branchlets of each are disposed in one 

 horizontal plane, and form an open, flat, fan-shaped spray. 

 The spray of the White Cedar is closer than that of Arbor- 

 vitae. The leaves of both are scale-like, opposite in pairs, 

 which makes them four-ranked, and so firmly pressed to the 

 twig and so closely overlapping each other that they seem to 

 be the twig itself. A tiny glandular disk is almost always 

 present on the scales of the White Cedar, frequently present 

 on those of, the Arborvitae. The width of the ultimate 

 branchlets of the Arborvitae is nearly an eighth of an inch, 

 that of the White Cedar barely a sixteenth. 



The cones are a marked and distinguishing difference be- 

 tween them. Those of the White Cedar are tiny round balls, 

 ornamented with various points and knobs. Those of the 

 Arborvitae are oblong and consist of six or eight loose 

 scales. White Cedar is the more southern tree. Arbor- 

 vitae has its chosen home in northern latitudes although both 

 are hardy throughout the northern states. The White Cedar 

 is especially a tree of the swamps, crowding as far into the 

 water as is possible while retaining a foothold of earth. Cedar 

 swamps as a rule are inaccessible except in midwinter on the 

 ice ; or in midsummer when the water is reduced to its lowest 

 stage. When the White Cedar and the Bald Cypress inhabit 

 a swamp together, the former crowds to the centre and the 

 latter grows about the edges. Notwithstanding its love of 

 water it will grow in dry situations ; and twelve varieties are 

 reported as in cultivation. 



As an illustration of the durability of the wood it may be 

 noted that the trunks of White Cedar, buried deep in the 

 swamps of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are found to be un- 

 changed in character and to furnish excellent lumber. 



490 



