The Cedar. 



" oblong crevices in every part of the trunk^ which are 

 occasioned by the large branches persisting after they are 

 " dead. My own observations and experiments lead me 

 " to believe that the growth of the tree might be quick- 

 " ened, and this deformity prevented, by cutting the limbs 

 " even with the trunk for two-thirds of its height. The 

 " wood is odorous, compact, fine-grained, and very light, 

 " though heavier and stronger than that of the White 

 Cedar and Cypress. To these qualities it unites the 

 " still more precious character of durability, and is con- 

 " sequently highly esteemed for such objects as require it 

 " in an eminent degree. But as it is procured with diffi- 

 culty, and is every day becoming scarcer, it is reserved 

 exclusively for the most important uses. The reproduc- 

 tion is too trifling to be mentioned in comparison with 

 " the consumption in the ports of the United States at 

 " large, and particularly at New York, Philadelphia, and 

 " Baltimore. In the upper part of the frame of vessels it 

 " is joined with the Live Oak, to compensate its excessive 

 " weight ; and this usage, more than any other, has wasted 

 the species. Recourse is now had to the coast of East 

 " Florida, between the St. Mary and the St. John, which 

 will soon be exhausted in its turn. The nearer the Red 

 " Cedar grows to the sea, and the farther southward, the 

 better is its wood. Next to ship-building, it is most 

 " commonly used for posts, which are highly esteemed, 

 " and are reserved for inclosing court-yards and gardens in 

 " the cities and their vicinity. The barriers of the side- 

 " walks, in the streets of Philadelphia, are made of this 

 " wood : they are ten or eleven feet long, and eight inches 

 " in diameter, and are sold at eighty cents each, while those 

 " of White Cedar cost only sixteen or seventeen cents. It 

 " is eminently fitted for subterranean water-pipes, but is 

 rarely employed, from the difficulty of obtaining stocks of 



