178 
FIRST BOOK. 
over large parts of the moist coast-lands, and 
even in some of the higher parts of the island. 
9. " The tree easily takes root, and grows fast, 
being ready for felling when it is from ten to 
twenty years old. But it makes the best wood 
when growing where the soil is rich and moist." 
SOME FAMOUS TREES. 
THE CEDAE. 
1. The West Indian Cedar is a high tree, from 
which we get a most useful kind of wood. Its 
leaves are made up of leaflets set in two rows, 
like the leaves of the acacia and logwood. 
2. Its flat, winged seeds are easily borne by the 
wind, and sown; yet, although there are very 
many full-grown trees in the island, there are but 
few young ones. 
3. Where the land has been taken for pen- 
keeping, the seedlings do not have a chance 
to live long. When they spring up, something 
should be put round them to keep the cattle 
from destroying them, so that there may be 
some cedar-wood in the island when the old 
trees are used up. 
4. For making small things for common use 
most timbers are too hard and heavy. Those 
