56 THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD 



Professor Groom says : " The red cedar of Australia is usually de- 

 scribed as being derived from the Toon-tree, Cedrela Toona (see Cedar, 

 Mouhnein), and it doubtless was so at one time. But the supply of the 

 wood has gravely decreased,^ and I have no doubt that much of the 

 ' red cedar ' now suppUed is not wholly derived from the Toon-tree. 

 Stone, for instance, was supplied officially with authentic specimens of 

 ' red cedar,' and describes them : his description convinces me that the 

 specimens were not the wood of Cedrela Toona. Quite certain it is that 

 our commercial specimen is not from that species. I rather suspect that 

 it may be derived from a Dysoxylum, which belongs to the same family, 

 and may even be D. Muelleri, Benth., the ' red bean,' of which I have 

 not seen authentic specimens." 



The wood is somewhat cross-grained, shows no distinct annual rings 

 or growth-rings. In transverse section it reveals to the naked eye 

 innumerable thin, concentric light Hues ; the pores are just visible, but 

 the medullary rays are invisible. 



Cedar, True. Cedrus Libani, Barrel ; C. Deodara, Loudon ; C. atlantica, 

 Manetti. Weight, 36 lbs. 7 oz. Europe, Asia, Africa. 



There are three different kinds of true cedars belonging to the genus 

 Cedrus. The differences between them are so sUght and fluctuating 

 that all three are frequently included under one botanical name, 

 C. Libani ; sometimes, however, each is given a separate name as above. 

 All are mountain trees ; the first-named growing on Mount Lebanon, 

 in Cyprus, and the Orient ; the second being Himalayan, and the third 

 African, and growing on the Atlas Mountains. All these are grown in 

 English gardens. The timbers of the three kinds are almost indistin- 

 guishable. An easy way of identifying the three varieties has been 

 mentioned to me, though it should be taken as general and not absolute. 

 L. for Libani, 1. for level (the branches extend from the tree in a more 

 or less horizontal manner) ; D. for Deodar, d. for drooping (the branches 

 generally droop) ; A. for Atlantica, a. for ascending (the branches 

 generally slope upwards). 



The sole supplies in England have consisted in those derived from the 

 few fallen trees (of all three kinds) and one shipment of C. atlantica 

 from Algeria in 1909. 



In a letter R. S. Pearson wrote concerning the deodar : " This is 

 one of the three most important timbers of India, the other two being 

 teak and sal. This timber is too valuable in India ever to find a market 

 in Europe." We can thus look for practically no supplies from India. 



The light yellow timber yields under the tool a beautiful surface 

 rivalling in smoothness that of the pencil cedar. Often, though not 

 ' Baker's Cabinet Timbers of Australia. 



