PINETUM BRITANNICUM. 
6 
the authority of the agent, who had been there for fifty-three years, that the late Lord Rochford bought it at 
Norwich about a hundred years ago. He adds, “It is certainly a fine specimen, and quite distinbt from 
C. Lib am. We have other small plants of C. Atlantica, purchased from the London nurseries fourteen 
years ago, which are the same thing.” Mr Irving has had the kindness to forward to us a twig and cone. 
The twig has all the characters of C. Atlantica; but the cone [fig. 9], which is very large and fine, corres¬ 
ponds in outward appearance with that of C. Libani , and not with that of C. A tlantica, 
which is smaller and more cylindrical. The wing of the seed, however, has a good 
deal of the character of that of C. A tlantica , although we find that sometimes, even 
in the same scale, a wing bearing somewhat of the characters of C. Libani is to be 
found alongside of one with the form of that of C. A tlantica [see figs. 1 o and 11, 
which are from the same scale]. On the whole, we believe it to be only a variety of 
the Cedar of Lebanon. 
Figs. 10 and n. 
Properties and Uses. —The occurrence of this tree on Mount Atlas was doubtless well known to 
the Romans, and it was probably of it that some of their choicest furniture was made. 
Professor Alphonse De Candolle, writing in 1854, sa Y s : — 
“ The Citrus Atlantica , of which were made the fine tables, Mensa Citrea of Africa, was probably the species of Cedar ( Cedrus Atlantica) 
that we now know to exist in the Atlas. Such a confusion of names was very possible, since, even in our own age, when there are so great pre¬ 
tensions to know everything, we do not yet know from what tree comes the Palissandre, or Rosewood of Brazil, out of which an immense quantity 
of furniture is manufactured. The articles of the Dictionaries of Commerce are absurd on this point; and botanists have only obtained a little 
more exact information in 1853. Palissandre probably comes from the words, palo santo, holy wood. It appears that the tree is a leguminous 
tree of Brazil, of the genus Machcsrium; but the species is doubtful.”— Geographic Botanique RaisonnCe , vol. ii. p. 864 (1855). 
In the Memoirs and Correspondence of Pepys, is a letter (quoted by Loudon, Arboretum , iv. 
Suppl., p. 2603) from Evelyn to Pepys, when the latter was at Tangiers, in which he makes the happy 
su gg es tion, “ Were it not possible to discover whether any of those Citrine trees are yet to be found that 
of old grew about the foot of Mount Atlas, not far from Tingis ? Now, for that some copies in Pliny 
read Cedria, others Citria, ’twould be inquired, What sort of Cedar (if any) grows about this mountain ? ” 
At what time the existence of the Cedar on Mount Atlas was first discovered does not appear. It 
was obviously not known when Evelyn wrote this, and it would be curious if its discovery had been due 
to his inquiry. 
So far as regards its uses in modern times, they are confined to the ordinary applications of timber by 
the people of the country. Its value, however, may be expected to become better understood, and Mensa 
Citrea may once again perhaps be exported from the Atlas to be loaded with the dishes of the most 
civilized peoples of the world. 
Culture. —This Cedar is perfectly hardy in Britain. Mr Palmer’s tables of the results of the winter 
of 1860-61, report upon 74 places as follows :— 
Killed. 
Much injured. 
Slightly Injured. 
Uninjured. 
Total. 
England . 
4 
I 
8 
38 
51 
Scotland . 
I 
I 
10 
7 
19 
Ireland. 
... 
... 
1 
3 
4 
5 
2 
19 
48 
74 
At one or two places the variety C. Africana is reported to have been more tender than the normal 
variety; 
