7 



OF FOREST-TREES. 7 



frequently raised it from the seeds and berries, of which we have the CHAP. I. 

 very best in the world from the Summer-Islands, though now almost '*-*'~y-'^ 

 exhausted by the unaccountable negligence of the planters ; as are 

 likewise those of Mount Libanus, by the wandering and barbarous 

 Arabs. The Cedar we have from Jamaica is a spurious sort, and 

 the wood so porous, that wine will soak into it. On the contrary, that 

 of Carolina is so firm and close, that barrels and other vessels preserve 



thrive best on the poorest soil j for sucli of them as have been planted in a strong, rich, 

 loamy earth, have made but a poor progress, in comparison to such as have grown upon 

 a stony, meagre soil. And that these trees are of quick growth, is evident from four of 

 them now growing in the physic garden at Chelsea, which, as Mr. Miller observes, were 

 planted there in the year l6S3, being at that time not above three feet high; two of which 

 trees are at this time ( 1 774) upwards of twelve feet and a half in girt, at two feet above 

 the ground, and their branches extend more than twenty feet on every side their trunks ; 

 which branches, though they are produced twelve or fourteen feet above the surface, do, 

 at every temination, hang very near the ground, and thereby afford a cool shade in the 

 hottest months of the year. 



In the garden of the old palace at Enfield, stands a Cedar of Libanus, of considerable 

 stature. The body, exclusive of the boughs, contains about 103 cubical feet. This tree 

 was planted by Dr. Uvedale, who kept a flourishing boai'ding-school in this house at the 

 time of tiie great plague in l665. It is in height about 45 feet at present, eight feet 

 having been broken off from its top by the high wind in 1703. Several other Cedars 

 of considerable size are scattered about in different parts of this kingdom. Of these, one 

 of the most remarkable was blown down by the hurricane that happened on the 1st of 

 January, 1779- It grew on the north-side of Hendon Place, eight miles from London. — 

 The height 70 feet; the diameter of the horizontal extent of the branches, 100; the 

 circumference of the trunk, seven feet above the ground, l6; twelve feet above the gromid, 

 21. At this latter height it began to branch; and its limbs, about ten in number, were 

 from six to twelve feet in circumference. This tree is supposed to have been two 

 hundred years old, and planted in the reign of Queen Elizabeth : tradition says by her 

 Majesty herself When blown down, it was perfectly sound and undecayed, and seemed 

 as if not grown to maturity. The following are the dimensions of a fine Cedar growing 

 at Hillington. The perpendicular height is 53 feet ; the diameter of the horizontal 

 extent of the brandies from east to west, 96 ; from north to south, 89 ; the circumference 

 of the trunk close to the ground, 13| ; seven feet above the ground, 12 h ; twelve feet 

 above the ground, 14 feet 8 inches ; and thirteen feet and a half above the ground, just 

 under the branches, 15 feet 8 inches. It has two principal branches, one of which is bifid 

 1| foot above its origin : before it divides it measures in circumference 12 feet: after its 

 division, one of its forks measures 81 feet, the other 7 feet 10 inches. The othef primary 

 branch, at its origin, measures 10 feet; and soon dividing, throws out two secondary 

 ones, each 5i. Its age is supposed to be II6 years. 



We do not exactly know when and by whom the Cedar was first introduced into 



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