450 
CONIFERS. — THE CEDRT7S, OR CEDAR. 
the Findkorn, in the north of Scotland, which, 
with a few hundreds of cedars, full-grown and 
grouped judiciously, might be made to exhibit 
a picture of sylvan grandeur, such as could 
not be anywhere surpassed ; for throughout 
that district there is every other element to 
distinguish it — wood, water, high rocky cliffs ; 
and, from some points, an almost boundless 
view. Other districts in Scotland present 
most eligible situations for the planting of this 
tree, such as the banks of the Clyde ; and 
indeed every estate throughout Britain con- 
taining uneven surfaces, presents, more or less, 
the proper sites for this celebrated object. 
Let it be understood, however, that to plant 
these trees in belts, or in common woodland 
fashion, without reference to the effect they 
may have from the chief point of view, is 
disgusting. The cedar is not by any means in- 
digenous to Britain ; and if it rise anywhere in 
masses, it is well known that it does so entirely 
by art ; it ought, therefore, to be in keeping 
with the surrounding scene — an adjunct to 
the chief object not far distant, viz. the man- 
sion. If a hill side be seen overlayed with 
cedars, one would naturally look around for 
the cause which led to this costly garnishing, 
and if none were discovered, the conclusion 
would be that their being there formed no 
part of a landscape design, but the mere freak 
of a questionable fancy. All ornamental 
planting, therefore, should have a strict refer- 
ence to the effect it may produce from the 
principal point of view. 
Independently of the intrinsic merits of this 
tree, its descent and history confer upon it a 
character which will always recommend it to 
the planter. The first account of it occurs in 
the Old Testament, from which it is abun= 
dantly evident that in Biblical times it formed 
the boast of Syria. What its peculiar effect 
was when viewed upon Lebanon can be only 
arrived at from the expressions which occur 
regarding it ; and these are certainly nu- 
merous and striking. Thus, when compared 
by David to the attainment of the righteous, 
it is said : "He shall flourish like the palm- 
tree ; he shall grow as the cedar in Lebanon." 
And again, to break this lofty and ponderous 
tree, and shake the enormous mass on which 
it grows, are figures which the inspired 
Psalmist selects in expressing the power and 
majesty of Jehovah : " The voice of the 
Lord breaketh the cedars ; yea, the Lord 
breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He makes 
them also to skip like a calf : Lebanon and 
Sirion like a young unicorn." And finally, 
we find the prophet Zechariah referring meta- 
phorically to this tree, whilst descanting on 
the destructive operations of the Roman 
armies, under the command of Titus Vespa- 
sian, against the nation of the Jews, when the 
princes and rulers were slaughtered, and the 
city and temple reduced to ruins : " Open 
thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may 
devour thy cedars ; howl, fir tree, for the 
cedar is fallen : because the mighty is spoiled : 
howl, O ye oaks of Bashan ; for the forest of 
the vintage is come down." 
But the interest attached to this tree does 
not end with it in its living state. The fancy 
must be transported to the cedar-galleries of 
Jerusalem, in the formation of which it was 
employed to the exclusion of all other sorts of 
wood. Naturalists and commentators, it is 
true, have some doubt if our cedar of Lebanon 
be the tree referred to so frequently in the 
Bible, because the wood grown in England is 
coarse, and ill adapted, as they conclude, to be 
moulded and fashioned into those flowers and 
figures which distinguished the work of the 
temple. The difference of soil and climate, 
however, may account for all this ; it being 
well known that trees which grow very slowly 
produce timber which is closer and more 
durable than that which is taken from those 
which grow rapidly. Besides, the words of 
the Psalmist, in allusion to the righteous, 
" they shall spread their branches like the 
cedar," preclude the possibility of any refer- 
ence to a juniper. Whilst, therefore, it is 
certain that the timber employed in building 
the sumptuous temple and palace at Jerusalem, 
was of the cedar, and of the growth of Leba- 
non, there is much to favour the supposition 
that the wood usually called cedar amongst the 
ancients, and which was so universally invested 
with imperishable qualities, was some sort of 
Cypressus, Thuja, or Juniperus. 
The general impression is, that this tree is 
confined to the particular mountain called 
Lebanon. This, however, is not the case ; 
for Mr. Drummond Hay, the British consul at 
Tangier, lately discovered it on Mount Atlas ; 
and specimens of the cones and branches of 
this tree have been sent from Morocco by 
P. B. Webb, Esq. Loudon thinks it probable 
that it will be found on the mountainous 
regions of the North of Africa, which botanists 
have not yet thoroughly explored. 
As to extracting and sowing the seeds. 
The cones are ripe in November or December, 
and should then be gathered ; for in some 
districts the squirrels will eat them, or rather 
the seeds, if allowed to hang longer. 17<> 
degree of heat will cause the cones to expand, 
so as to let the seeds fall out, as in the case of 
the Scotch pine, so they should be treated in 
every respect as recommended for the larch 
cones ; that is, laid upon a kiln for twelve 
hours, and subjected to a degree of heat not 
exceeding 120° Fah. During the time they 
are on the kiln they will require to be turned 
completely over three times, that is, at nine, 
