2 BULLETIN 1051, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SOURCE, DISTRIBUTION, AND DESCRIPTION OF RED CEDAR. 



Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) , commonly known as Tennessee 

 or Virginia red cedar, is one of the most widely distributed conif- 

 erous trees of North America, occurring on dry hills or in deep 

 swamps, sometimes attaining a height of 90 feet, but usually averag- 

 ing 40 to 50 feet or less. The tree is distributed throughout all sec- 

 tions of the United States as far west as the Rocky Mountains, 

 flourishing under various climatic conditions. It is most abundant, 

 however, in the region from the Ohio River on the north to Florida 

 on the south and from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to Arkansas 

 on the west. In Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina the red 

 cedar occurs in large areas of nearly pure forests known as " cedar 

 breaks." In these sections the most extensive manufacture of cedar 

 lumber is conducted. 



In general, the red cedar is a straight tree, pyramidal in shape, 

 becoming round-topped in old age, and has a tapering trunk and 

 shreddy bark. The wood is light, close-grained, compact, and dura- 

 ble. The heartwood is red in color and strongly aromatic, while the 

 sapwood is white and devoid of odor. 



USES OF RED CEDAR. 



The commercial use of the wood dates back to the seventeenth 

 century. In 1632 Morton (1£, p. 49-54, V^- 4-5) >* in citing the trees 

 that are found in New England, stated : 



Cedar, of this sorte there is abundaunce; and this wood was such as Salo- 

 mon used for the building of that glorious Temple at Hierusalem. . . . This 

 wood cutts red, and is good for bedsteads tables and chests, and may be placed 

 in the Catalogue of Commodities. 



In 1682 Gent (4, P- 63) , in describing the resources of South Caro- 

 lina, mentioned the presence in that State of odoriferous and fragrant 

 woods, among them being the sweet-scented cedar and cypress, from 

 both of which were made boxes, chests, tables, and cabinets. He 

 further stated that: 



The Dust and Shavings of Cedar, laid amongst Linnen or Woollen, destroys 

 the Moth and all Verminous Insects ; It never rots, breeding no worm, by which 

 many other Woods are consumed and destroyed. 



In 1757 Peter Kalm (7, p. 264), in a report of his early travels in 

 North America, mentioned red cedar as being prized for its dura- 

 bility. 



In 1776 Hunter (6) stated that the timber was very valuable for 

 many uses and possessed a bitter resin which prevented worms from 

 attacking it. " Later, in 1786, Lamarck (9) stated that the wood was 

 much sought in America for carpentry, construction of vessels, wood- 

 work, and different utensils, because it was filled with a bitter resin 

 which prevented its destruction by worms. According to Bigelow 

 (i, p. $-54, pi. 45) , in 1820, the wood- 

 is principally employed for postsi in fences, in which capacity it proves more 

 durable than almost any species of wood used for the same purpose. 



Loudon (10, p. 848) , mentioned Juniperus virginiana as producing 

 lumber which is " very odoriferous " and useful for cabinet making 



1 The figures (italic) in parentheses refer to "Literature cited," p. 14. 



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