NIIRSI.HY AND PLANTINO. 



coldest parts of tlie mountains of Libanus, Amanus, and Tuu- 

 riis, but is not now to be found in tbose plaiTs in any «^n'at 

 abundanco. arc informed by Ahuuubell, in bis journey 



from Aleppo to Jerusalem, in ibat lie could reckon oidy 



sixteen large trees of tins kind, one of wbicb was twelve yards 

 fc^ix inclies in circumference, and tbirty-seven yards in tbc 

 spread of its bougbs. It is calculated tbat tbere are now many 

 more cedars in J^ngland tban in all l^alestine, altbouu^b only 

 introduced in l()8i3. Tbe oldi^st specimens are sujiposcd lo l)e 

 tbe two in tbc Apotbecarics' l^otanic Garden at Cbelsi a ; but 

 tbere are some of nuicb i^reater dimensions in various ])arts of 

 England. Zion House, \\ bidon Park, Stow, Warwick Castle, 

 and Pain's Hill, are all noted for tbe size of tbeir cedars ; and 

 we bave reckoned above one bundred trees in tbe p.u k at C'lare- 

 mont alone, tbe majority of wbicb are supposed to bave been 

 planted by Lord Clive, and bave attained a very considerable 

 size. Tbe cedar ripens its seeds in many parts of I'.ngland, 

 and from sucb seeds plants are often obtained ; but tbe best 

 seeds are procured from tbe Levant, and seldom are iound de- 

 fective, as tbe seeds will keep (juite safe in tbe conc lor several 

 years after being taken from tbe tree. In regard to sucb cones 

 as are procured in tins country, tbe seeds sbould be extracted 

 in spring, by sj)litting tbe cones witb a triangular instrument; 

 and to facilitate tins process tbe more, tbe cones may be steeped 

 in water for a day or two before tbc splitting connnences. 



Tbe seeds of tbis tree, unlike tbat of almost all otber trees, 

 are improved by keeping for a time ; at least it is fouiul in prac- 

 tice to be beneficial to allow tbem to lie by for one year at least 

 after gatbering, during wbicb tiuie tbe seeds, wbicb are quite 

 soft wben taken from tbe tree, become bard, and tbe rosin witb 

 wbicb tbe cones are so fully cbarged, is gradually discbarged. 

 Wben tbe seeds are taken from tbc cone, tbey sbould be im- 

 mediately sown in boxes or i)ans, in properly prepared ligbt 

 loamy eartb, and covered to tbe dcptb of balf an incb ; or tbey 

 may be sown on a well-sbeltered border, in a similar soil, and 

 kept clear of weeds after tbey come tbrougb tbe ground. Wben 

 one year old, tbey sbould be transplanted into nursery-lines, 

 in wbicb tbey sbould remain for two years to gain strengtb ; 

 and afterwards, if tbey be taken up and replanted carefully 



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