CEDAR OF LEBANON. 



521 



a tree so frequently and honourably mentioned in Holy 

 Writ give it an interest surpassing that of any other conif- 

 erous species ; and though it has not hitherto been planted 

 in Britain as a timber-tree with a view to profit, its intro- 

 duction upwards of one hundred and fifty years ago, and 

 the numerous, and in many instances noble specimens now 

 existing in various parts of the kingdom, give it a fair and 

 just claim to notice in the present work. 



Specifically it is distinguished by having the leaves tufted, 

 persistent, the cones ovate, abrupt, from three to five 

 inches long, and from two to two and a half broad, their 

 scales close-pressed ; seeds irregularly triangular in form, 

 with a broad membranaceous wing. 



When young, the Cedar, 

 like others of the pine and 

 fir tribe, presents a pyra- 

 midal or spiry form, the 

 leading shoot continuing ra- 

 pidly to elongate, and the 

 lateral branches springing 

 annually in regular whorls 

 around its base. At an 

 early age also, the leading 

 shoot generally exhibits an 

 inclination to one side ; but 

 this disappears as it gains 

 strength and age, and in 

 the full-grown tree the bole 

 is usually seen straight and 

 erect. As it approaches 



maturity, and reaches its greatest height, which varies 

 from fifty to eighty feet, the leading shoot becomes greatly 

 diminished or entirely ceases to elongate ; at the same 



