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XLVI. Account of the Growth of some Cedars of Lebanon, 

 in the Gardens at Hopetoun House, near Edinburgh, By 

 Mr. James Smith, Corresponding M ember of the Horticul- 

 tural Society, Gardener to the Earl of Hopetoun. 



Read February 21, 1826. 



Though the Pinus Cedrus, or Cedar of Lebanon, is found 

 not only to stand the climate of Britain, but to attain also a 

 large size, yet the fact of its being of very rapid growth is not 

 generally known ; of this, however, the following account of 

 three Cedars in the Gardens at Hopetoun House will furnish 

 very satisfactory evidence. 



The extensive pleasure grounds at this place were laid out 

 about the year 1740, and in that and the subsequent years, a 

 great variety of curious ornamental trees was planted, which 

 are now of considerable size, and in great beauty and perfec- 

 tion : among these are three Cedars, which were planted 

 in the year 1748. The two largest are growing in a favour- 

 able deep soil, which although not wet inclines to be moist ; 

 the third is on a gravelly soil, beside a rill of water ; their 

 situation is well sheltered, and about one hundred feet above 

 the level of the sea. In the year 1797 the third tree was the 

 largest, and Dr. Walker,* who noted its size at that date, 

 ascribes its superiority to the wetness of its situation. He has 

 stated that it was five feet and one inch in circumference, but 



• Essays on Natural History, 8vo. Edinburgh J 808, page 69. 



