CHAP. CXIII. CONI'FERjE. juni'perus. 24-97 



small town of the district of Maine, at the mouth of the Kennebeck; whene 

 it spreads, without interruption, to Cape Florida, and thence round the 

 Gulf of Mexico, to beyond St. Bernard's Bay, a distance of more than 3000 

 miles. As it retires from shore, it becomes gradually less common and less 

 vigorous ; " and, in Virginia and the more southern states, it is rare at the 

 point where the tide ceases to flow in the rivers : farther inland, it is seen only 

 in the form of a shrub, in open dry sandy places. In the western states, it is 

 confined to spots where the calcareous rock shows itself naked, or is so thinly 

 covered with mould, as to forbid the vegetation of other trees. Though the 

 red cedar grows naturally in the district of Maine, and in the islands of Lake 

 Champlain, it is repressed by a winter as intense as that of the north of Ger- 

 many ; and developes itself less vigorously than in Virginia and farther south, 

 where the soil and climate are favourable to the growth of the tree, and the 

 perfection of its wood. Upon the downs, it is often buried in the sand cast 

 up by the waves, except the summit of the branches, which appear like young 

 trees above the surface. When unencumbered with sand, as in the middle of 

 the islands, and on the borders of the narrow sounds which flow between them 

 and the main, it attains the height of 40 ft. or 45 ft. ; but it would be difficult 

 to meet with trees of this size northward of the river St. Mary, within the 

 ancient limits of the United States." {Mwhx.) According to Pursh, it is 

 found in dry and rocky woods and fields, from the province of Maine to 

 Georgia. It is mentioned by Parkinson ; but he says that he has only seen 

 the wood. It is said, in the Hortus Kewensis, to have been introduced before 

 1664, by Evelyn; and it has long been one of the commonest evergreens 

 in British shrubberies. It endures the open air in Paris, and in Central 

 Germany. 



Properties and Uses. The name of red cedar has reference to the heart 

 wood of this tree, which is of a beautiful red, while the sap wood is perfectly 

 white. It is so strong and durable, that it would be preferred, in America, to 

 every other kind of wood for many rural purposes, if it were not become so 

 scarce in that country as to be very dear. According to Michaux, the barriers 

 of the side walks in the streets of Philadelphia are made of this wood : they 

 are 10ft. or lift, long, and 8 in. wide; and they are sold at 80 cents each; 

 while those made of white cedar cost only 16 or 17 cents. The wood of the 

 red cedar is admirably fitted for subterranean water-pipes ; but it is rarely 

 used for that purpose, from the difficulty of procuring trunks of sufficient size. 

 The wood of the red cedar grown in the southern maritime states is reckoned 

 the best ; and it is used, combined with live oak, for the upper part of the 

 frames of vessels ; it is also generally used, in the southern states, for coffins. 

 In Philadelphia the turners make their large stop-cocks of it ; they also 

 make very elegant little tubs, neatly wrought, and hooped with brass, resem- 

 bling the Scotch bickers, of alternate staves of the heart and sap wood. It 

 makes admirable fuel ; and, when used for this purpose on board the steam- 

 boats, the volumes of smoke which issue from the boiler furnaces are said to 

 perfume the air for several miles in the track of the boat, or in the direction 

 of the wind. The timber is imported into England for the manufacture of 

 black-lead pencils ; though the Bermuda juniper is preferred for that purpose. 

 In Britain, the red cedar it is not planted as a timber tree ; though, from 

 the size which it attains in deep dry sandy soils, it might be worth while to 

 plant it in masses for this purpose. As an ornamental tree, or large shrub, 

 it is highly valued, either for planting singly on lawns, or in groups along 

 with other trees and shrubs. It is more especially adapted for grouping 

 with other Cupressinae, the pine and fir tribe, and the yew. 



Soil, Propagation, Culture, &c, as in the common juniper. 



Statistics. In the Environs of London. At Ham House, Essex, it is 38 ft. high, with a trunk 1 ft. 

 9 in. in diameter ; in the Fulham Nursery, 12 years planted, it is 15 ft. high. — South of London. In 

 Devonshire, at Bicton, 10 years planted, it is 12 ft. high. In Hampshire, at Strath fieldsaye, it is 

 47 ft. high, with a trunk 2ft. in diameter. In Somersetshire, at Nettlecombe, 60 years planted, it is 

 36 ft. high, diameter of the trunk 2 ft., and of the head 25 ft. In Surrey, at Bagshot Park, 20 years 

 planted, it is 22 ft. high. In Sussex, at Westdean, 14 year6 planted, it is 29 ft. high North of 



7 Y 2 



