PINETUM BRITANNICUM. 
H 
more are daily pouring in. Even in the north of Ireland it is fpringing up like the Larch in open feed-beds ; 
and we fhall foon fee this noble timber tree quoted in the nurferymen’s lifts at the price of the worthlefs 
though magnificent Cedar of Lebanon ” ( Gard. Ckron., 1841). 
The prophecy thus made came true enough; * but the inference contained in the laft lines, that the 
Deodar is fo much a nobler and more valuable tree than the Cedar, has not been wholly borne out For 
fome years the faith in the fuperior properties of the Deodar continued unchallenged ; but about 1853 or 
1854 a whifper began to fpread abroad that perhaps we had been too hafty in taking for granted the accounts 
of its excellences ; that it would be a fad miftake if we fhould negledt the growth of the Oak for it in the Royal 
Forefts, and it fhould afterwards turn out not to anfwer—a miftake which might.be difcovered not by us, 
but by our defcendants, when the Oak forefts had difappeared, and been replaced by Deodars. We do not 
know who firft founded the note of alarm. Mr Strickland of Hildenley is one of the firft whom we find 
gently fuggefting, in the periodicals of the day, the poffibility of the tree being lefs fuitable than was 
thought; but the importance of the queftion was inftindtively recognifed, and thofe who believed in its 
fuperiority, and had recommended its cultivation, preffed forward to vindicate their opinion. Numerous 
papers from various pens appeared in the horticultural periodicals of the day, in which the queftion was 
ably difcuffed ; and a Report was made to the Commiffioners of Woods and Forefts by Dr Royle, who was 
a zealous advocate for the Deodar, and appears to have ftrongly recommended its being planted on a large 
fcale by the Commiffioners. In that Report (publifhed in 1853) he accumulated all the evidence of its 
value which could be obtained from books or men familiar with the tree in its native country. He caufed 
the large planks already mentioned to be fent to this country, and exhibited them at a meeting of the 
Horticultural Society, and afterwards got Mr Wilfon Saunders and other members of Lloyd’s to examine 
them, and obtained a favourable report from them. Their examination, however, appears to have been con¬ 
fined to ocular infpedtion, without any comparative trials of ftrength. “ It appeared , they faid, to be fuperior 
to common Larch.” The maffive dimenfions of thefe planks feemed to have impofed on every one, taking 
their fenfe captive. “No one converfant with fuch fubjedts could look at the huge fpecimen without 
recognifing in it a defcription of timber ranking among the high eft of its clafs ” [Gard. Ckron., 25 th Feb. 
1854). They fhewed fuch a goodly outfide, that no further examination or teft feems to have been thought 
neceffary, at leaft none is recorded ; and if any had been made, it is not likely that it would have been paffed 
in filence, efpecially as we have now ftrong reafons for thinking that, if it had been made, it muft have fhaken 
the faith of the experimenter, and modified the affured tone of his opinion. Moft of this evidence will 
be found recapitulated in our remarks on the properties and ufes of the tree. It feemed to convince the 
public at the time ; at leaft, the difcuffion ended, leaving the believers in the virtues of the Deodar apparently 
mafters of the field. Notwithftanding this, the doubts caft upon it were not wholly eradicated ; a feeling of 
diftruft.furvived, and botanifts and the public, although their mouths were fhut by the cafes quoted and 
arguments ufed, referved their judgment. Data for determining the point were wanting. The timber might 
be all that could be wifhed in its native country, and yet the change to this climate might have a deterio¬ 
rating effefif upon it, which might render trees grown here not fitted for our purpofes. American trees 
feldom acquire in this country the excellence they poffefs in their native land. We poffefs neither the heat 
in fummer neceffary to ripen the wood, nor the cold in winter to give it fufficient repofe. Nay, more; 
analogy was drawn from the Cedar of Lebanon, which is faid to be of great excellence on the Syrian 
mountains, while it is perifhable and valuelefs with us. The Scotch Pine and the Pinafter are nearly 
related, but the one is much more valuable than the other. Even in the native country of the Deodar it 
might only be the timber of very old trees, or of trees grown under peculiar conditions of foil or climate, 
which poffeffed the valuable properties afcribed to it. And yet, again, it might be that the properties for 
which it is fo much valued in its native habitat, might not be exafitly thofe which are wanted for our fervice 
* Loudon, in his Arborehim (1838), quotes the plants as being fold at two guineas. 
In 1854 they could be had at fixpence a-piece. 
in 
