CONIFERS OF THE EOCKY MOUNTAIN REGION. 29 



cedrus decurrens Torr.), applied to this tree was published with its 

 accompanying description, in 1854, and since that time the tree 

 has been known to botanists practically only by this name. The 

 botanical history of Libocedrus decurrens contains little or no con- 

 fusion with other similar trees, and but three technical names, now 

 synonyms, have been applied to it during the 62 years it has been 

 known to science. 42 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



The striking characteristics of old incense cedar trees are their 

 rapidly tapering trunks with widely buttressed bases and their thick, 

 cinnamon-brown, deeply furrowed, and ridged bark. The bark of 

 such trees is from 2 to 3 inches thick, or more, at the base of the 

 trunks, while higher up it is scarcely more than an inch thick. Young 

 trees have thin, smooth, slightly scaly bark of a clear, cinnamon-red 

 color. Mature trees are ordinarily from 80 to 100 feet in height, 

 and from 30 to 50 inches in diameter; exceptionally large trees are 

 from 125 to 160 43 feet in height and from 6 to 8 feet in diameter. 

 The clear length of stem among large trees varies from 40 to 70 feet. 

 The largest size is attained in the Pacific region, trees within the 

 limited Rocky Mountain range rarely exceeding 70 feet in height and 

 30 inches in diameter. 



The crowns of large trees are very open and irregular, consisting 

 of a few short, scattered branches on the upper third of the stem, 

 and sometimes several large, leaderlike top branches, all with dense 

 tufts of light yellow-green foliage. Young trees, up to about 12 

 inches in diameter, that have grown in full light, carry a pointed, 

 narrow, open, columnar crown, which usually extends down to the 

 ground. At the bottom of the crown the branches are slender and 

 curve down and up at their ends; higher up on the trunk they grad- 

 es Libocedrus decurrens appears to be very generally planted for ornament in the British Isles, and in 

 west central and southern Europe, where the tree seems to be well adapted for growth. It is said to have 

 been first introduced into cultivation in Scotland in 1853. Elwes and Henry (Trees of Great Britain and 

 Ireland, III, 492, 1908) mention a tree planted there in 1863, which, in 1905, measured 53 feet in height and 

 about 21 inches in diameter. Another tree mentioned, probably the first one grown in England, was 

 planted "about 1850, " and in 1907 measured 53 feet in height and about 32 inches in diameter. The largest 

 tree found by these authors in England was planted in 1857, and in 1904 was 64 feet high and 30 inches in 

 diameter. Much larger trees were found in northern Italy, two specimens mentioned by Elwes and Henry 

 (1. c.) each being 90 feet high and 37 and 39 inches in diameter. 



Just when Libocedrus decurrens was first cultivated in eastern United States is unknown. It grows 

 well in the middle Atlantic States, but is not hardy north of southern New York. Probably the earliest 

 planting of this species in the East was by Mr. William Saunders, who set several trees in the grounds of 

 the Agricultural Department, at Washington D. C, about 1867, Mr. Saunders then being superintendent 

 of the department grounds. One of these trees, still standing, is now about 30 feet high and 14 inches in 

 diameter. 



* 3 Probably the largest incense cedars now known are two trees recently reported by the district forester 

 of district 5. The larger in diameter of these trees, located near Morgan Springs, Tehama County, Cal. 

 (in the Lassen National Forest), is 120 feet in height and 8 feet in diameter, and is estimated to contain 

 9,700 board feet. The taller is located in the Shasta National Forest (California; and measures 161 feet in 

 height and 83 inches in diameter. Since these two records were obtained, Mr. J. Alfred Mitchell reports 

 trees ranging from 162 to 183 feet in height, and one tree, recently cut, that was 186 feet high. (Bui. 

 604, U. S. Department of Agriculture, pp. 13, 14, 1918.) 



