THE CEDAR OF LEBANON. 



293 



This quality, however, is only found 

 in trees grown in their native area. In 

 those altitudes the brief yearly period 

 of growth, the shortness of the seasons, 

 and the heat of the sun, all go to the 

 forming of hard, even, and seasoned 

 layers. When the tree is grown outside 

 its natural zone, in a climate milder and 

 more variable, the annual layers are 

 thicker, irregular, and imperfectly ri- 

 pened ; such wood is soft, light, want- 



to be at least a thousand years old and 

 was still sound. 



The idea that this tree 



Rate of Growth. • r ^ 1 



is or slow growth is an 

 error ; it may prove so if we plant large 

 and showy " specimens" but when 

 planted small, as all trees should be, its 

 growth is rapid. But to get the best re- 

 sults we should encourage it to shoot 

 upwards and not spread into vast limbs. 

 The late Mr. Robert Marnock wrote 



GROUP OF CEDARS IN NORTH AFRICA (NEAR BABOR) ON MARGIN OF OPEN SPACE. 



ingin colour, and almost scentless. Our 

 way of planting the Cedar in most un- 

 natural conditions makes its wood soft 

 and the tree less enduring. If we plant 

 it in the ordinary soil of the valley or 

 hill we should get a better result in every 

 way and as good wood as from the na- 

 tive trees. I remember seeing at Car- 

 thage a great piece of wood that had lain 

 buried among the ruins of that ancient 

 city ; from its position it was supposed 



to me as follows — and he was a good 

 witness, having planted many thousands 

 of these trees during his long life : — 

 " During a more than forty years daily 

 occupation among trees, I have felt a 

 growing affection for this glorious gift 

 of Nature. The grand old Cedars at 

 Upper Gatton and Warwick Castle are 

 examples of what Cedars become in 

 moderately favourable circumstances ; 

 and examples fully as fine could be given 



