BACCIFERyE. 



153 



JUNIPERUS VlRGINIANi? : The Yirginian Juniper. 



So-called from its having been introduced into this country from 

 .Korth America more than two centuries ago : and popularly known as 

 the " Eed Cedar," a name applied to it on account of its beautiful red- 

 coloured wood ; which is correct and appropriate enough when it is 

 thoroughly matured or seasoned ; but its young, immature, or sap- 

 wood is creamy-white in colour. This juniper, in a more or less 

 metamorphosed or altered form, is also to be found in many parts of 

 India, in Mexico, and recently in more J^orth-western latitudes of 

 the globe. Some of these when first imported appear quite distinct 

 species ; but, when cultivated in the same soils, climates, and altitudes, 

 gradually revert to the prototype. It attains heights of from twenty- 

 live to fifty feet ; and is thoroughly hardy, though its Indian forms 

 named Barhademis and Gossainthanea, and their varieties, are more 

 or less tender and delicate in this country ; so is its Mexican form. 

 Its leaves are of various forms, and very irregularly disposed upon the 

 branches, some being scale-formed, some needle-shaped, some lanceo- 

 late, some ovate, and some roundish, blunt or sharp-pointed ; in 

 opposite pairs, or in whorls of threes ; some scattered, some two-rowed, 

 some are four-rowed ; some spreading, and some imbricated ; some 

 comparatively long from a quarter to half an inch, but generally short ; 

 some thick and leathery, some thin and soft ; some glaucous, some 

 smooth and shining ; of various colours ; light or dark green, glaucous, 

 grey, or silvery-green ; brownish- green or purplish-green. Its berries 

 are comparatively small, globular, or roundish ; of various shades of 

 purple colours ; some smooth, some warted or tuberculated ; some 

 shining, but generally wdth a glaucous powder when ripe. It produces 

 good timber, which is compact, fine-grained, strong, fragrant, and 

 durable ; rich in colour ; capable of receiving a good polish ; and not 

 subject to the ravages of wood insects, or fungoids. It is useful for 

 many domestic purposes, as well as for carpenters, cabinet-makers, 

 wood-turners, black-lead pencil makers, and other wood workers. It 

 grows freely in almost any kind of soil, if in a healthy condition, and 

 is an useful and ornamental small-sized tree, more particularly in 

 maritime districts ; but its slow and tardy growth, and small dimen- 

 sions, detract much from its value as a profitable timber tree. It is to 



that it is by accommodation of the term from frankincense to incense ; not, of course, 

 that they produce the Asiatic sandarac frankincense, but the incense used in lieu of it 

 in modern Grecian, or Romish ceremonies of religion. Hence it is that so many of the 

 Firs and Pines are so frequently mentioned as producing " frankincense," "incense," 

 *' odour " or "sandarac." 



