PENCIL CEDAR 



traceable with microscope. Ground spongy and fine for a Conifer 

 containing rows of resin-cells in zones. 



Pith. Small, about i - o mm. wide. 



Rays. In radial section not perceptible with lens, and smaller 

 and of less height than those of P. Thunbergii. 



Type specimens authenticated by the Forest Officer to the 

 Government of Natal, and also from a log sent to the Colonial 

 and Indian Exhibition. 



No. 225. PENCIL CEDAR. Juniperus virginiana. 



Linn. 

 Plate XVI. Fig. 139. 



Natural Order. Conifers. 



Synonyms. J. barbadensis, Michx. [This is given as a 

 synonym of J. occidentalis, Hook, by Macoun (66).] 



Sources of Supply. United States of America and Canada. 



Alternative Names. Red Cedar : Savin (100). Virginische 

 Wachholder, Bleistiftholz, Virginian Cedar (49). Sabino in 

 Mexico (Kew MS.). Cedar, Potlood in South Africa (51). 



Physical Characters, etc. Recorded dry-weight 20I-35 lbs. per 

 cu. ft. Hardness Grade 7, compare Deal. Smell sweet, fragrant. 

 Taste sweet. Burns very badly and supports a flame with diffi- 

 culty : aromatic : noisy : embers glow in still air. Solution 

 very pale brown with water : pale red with alcohol. A spot of 

 caustic potash solution sinks instantly into the wood, which it 

 turns deep black, afterwards changing to purple. 



Grain. Extremely fine, even and uniform. Surface shining 

 when cleft, rather dull when planed. 



Bark. About 1 inch thick, deep reddish brown : fibrous, the 

 fibres easily rubbing off : deciduous, " peeling and hanging in 

 loose strips : smooth when young " (49). Soft to the touch : 

 inner layer about -fa inch thick. 



Uses, etc. Pencil-making, pen-holders, fancy turnery. "Fence- 

 posts, railway ties . . . most durable in contact with the soil 

 . . . moth and insect-proof " (49). " A tree about 80-100 ft. 

 high by 2-4 ft. 6 in. diameter : not strong, brittle, easily worked " 

 (100). Fades when exposed to the light : turns brown with a 

 spirit polish. 



Authorities. Kew List Conif. (58), p. 31. Nordlinger (86), 

 vol. iii. p. 8. Schwartz (106), p. 47. Stevenson (113), p. 209. 

 Hough (49), pt. i. p. 76. Macoun (66), vol. iii. p. 46. Smith 

 (in), p. 100. Holtzapffel (48), p. 79. Gamble (37), p. 411. 

 Sargent (ioo), No. 339. Hutchins (51). Wiesner (131), L. 7, 

 p. 163. 



255 



