JUNIPER. 235 
Properties of Wood.—Light, soft, close grained, but brittle and 
not strong, dull red, with thin, nearly white, sapwood, very 
fragrant, easily worked and extremely durable in contact with the 
soil. Specific gravity, 0.4926; weight of a cubic foot, 30.7 
pounds. 
Uses.—The Red Cedar is a valuable ornamental tree for this 
section, of rather slow growth except when young, but very 
hardy and durable. It makes an excellent low windbreak or 
hedge, and bears close pruning without injury. The leaves gen- 
erally turn brown by the latter part of winter. The wood is used 
where great durability in contact with the soil is required, as for 
telegraph poles and fence posts, for interior finishing, cabinet 
making and for lining chests and closets in which woolens are 
preserved against the attacks of moths. It is almost the only wood 
Figure 49. Common Juniper. 
used in the manufacture of lead pencils, and is the most highly 
esteemed of any wood for the manufacture of pails, tubs, brush 
and tool handles, faucets. A decoction of the fruit and leaves is 
occasionally used medicinally and an infusion of the berries as 
a diuretic and in horneopathic remedies. Oil of Red Cedar is 
distilled from the leaves and wood, and is used principally in per- 
fumery. 
Juniperus communis. Dwarf Juniper. Common Juni- 
per. Trailing Juniper. 
Leaves in whorls of three, pointed at the base, linear, lanceo- 
late, pointed, dark green on the lower side, channelled and 
glaucous white on the upper side, one-third to one-half inch long, 
spreading at nearly right angles to the branches, have a strong, 
unpleasant, slightly astringent taste, during winter turn to a rich 
bronze color on the lower surface and remain on tree for five or 
six years. Flowers open late in spring. Fruit during the first 
