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 PART 16— CEDARS 



THE TREE OF SOLOMON'S TEMPLE 



Three genera of evergreens are commonly known as cedars. 

 The common Red Cedar (p. 112) is really a juniper. The White 

 Cedar (p. 106) is a Chamaecy parts. The Arbor- Vitae and the 

 Cedrela are often known as cedar, too. The true cedars are those 

 of the genus Cedrus. The collection of these in the Garden has 

 only three trees, which stand on the higher ground east of the 

 Central Drive through the Garden (Map p. 137). They are 

 north of the yews and on the w r est side of the path from them. 



The three trees here are 



Cedrus atlantica var. glauca, the Blue Atlas-Cedar, and 

 Cedrus atlantica var. aurea, the Golden Atlas-Cedar 



The former, of which there are two trees, has bluish foliage, 

 and the latter, of which there is one tree, has golden foliage. These 

 color features show best on the new growth in spring. The iirst 

 of these is a natural variety that may occur in any hatch of 

 seedlings. Consequently, there are gradations in it. The golden 

 form is propagated only by grafting and is not so vigorous as 

 seedling trees. 



The Atlas Cedar, of which these are two variations, is native 

 of the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco of northern 

 Africa. It grows there up to 120 feet in height, forming a very 

 handsome tree, pyramidal when young and flat-topped in age. 



These trees prefer well-drained, loamy soil, but will also grow 

 in sandy clay, if there is no stagnant moisture. 



General Discussion 



There are three closely related species of true cedar and these 

 are sometimes regarded as geographical varieties of the same tree. 

 Of these the Lebanon Cedar is one of the most famous of trees, 

 because of its interesting historic and religious associations. The 

 Cedars of Lebanon that grew near the eastern shores of the 

 Mediterranean Sea have been famed throughout history as the 

 source of the great timbers which Solomon secured from King 



