CEDRUS DEODARA. 
1116 lb., the two latter from the heart of the tree, the others from the outfide of the tree. Now, we know 
the breaking weight of a piece of Britifh Oak of the fame fize is between 5000 lb. and 6000 lb., fhewing that 
it is at leaft five times ftronger than the Deodar. But as Mr Wilfon Saunders put the cafe, in the opinion 
on the appearance of the Deodar, which he is reported to have given above, woods for fhipping purpofes 
may be divided into hard woods, foft woods, and intermediate woods. He inftanced the Larch as an in¬ 
termediate wood, and thought that the Deodar might rank higher than the Larch. But Mr Saunders 
has fubfequently afcertained that in this he was in error, the relative breaking weight of the Britifh 
Larch to that of the Deodar being as 168 lb. to 154 lb.; and we have reafon to know that he has con- 
fiderably modified the favourable opinion which he then expreffed of the Deodar as a wood fitted for 
naval purpofes. 
In a recent article in the Gardeners Chronicle (Jan. 1864), Mr Saunders details the refults of experiments 
fince made by him, from which the pofition of the Deodar, as regards refiftance of breakage, will be feen. He 
took lengths of each of the woods enumerated in the following table, carefully fquared to ij inch, and fub- 
mitted them to the preffure of weights pendent from the centre, the lengths being fupported between ftandards 
exactly fix feet apart. The weight at which each broke, and the amount of deflexion from the horizontal 
line at the time of breaking, are given 
“ Douglas Fir, . 
in the following table :— 
lb. 
280 
Deflexion in 
inches. 
4 - 
fracture, rough and long. 
Pitch Pine, 
280 
4 - 
,, fhort and even. 
Canada Spruce, 
196 
4-7 
,, fhort and rough. 
Red Pine, 
168 
6 . 
„ rough. 
Britifh Larch, . 
168 
5-2 
„ fhort and even. 
Deodar from Himmalayas, 
154 
3-8 
„ fhort.” 
✓ 
The fpecimens experimented on were carefully felected from the beft defcription of wood, and free 
from all defects. The deflexion is in inches and tenths of an inch. Each wood had two trials, and the 
figures give a mean refult. Lie found that not only is the Deodar fomewhat weaker than the Britifh Larch, 
and of courfe ftill weaker than the Hackmatac or American Larch, but it is alfo more deficient in tenacity. 
With him, as in our experiment, the Deodar, when it broke, did not give way flowly, toughly, and almoft 
imperceptibly, but fnapped fhort and brittle, fending its fragments leaping into the air. We imagine, 
therefore, that it muft now be admitted, that however valuable the Deodar may be as a lovely addition to 
our hardy evergreens, and a ufeful fecond-clafs wood, we muft diftnifs all expectations of its ever being a 
fuitable fubftitute for the Oak, or of its being of much value for naval purpofes. 
There are other purpofes, however, for which we fhould think its qualities peculiarly adapt it. For 
many of the purpofes for which the Larch is ufed, it may be found even better adapted than it. With nearly 
the fame degree of ftrength, it has much more durability, and therefore it feems peculiarly fuited for palings, 
fleepers for railways, roofing for houfes, &c.; in fact, every purpofe where durability under expofure is more 
wanted than great ftrength. It will alfo be found, in fheltered fituations, in fome refpects well fitted for a 
nurfe. The Scotch Pine is fo heavy and compact in its foliage that it keeps off light from the deciduous 
trees which grow among it, and offers great obftruction to the free circulation of air, doing about as much 
harm in this way as it effects good by giving fhelter from heavy gales. Its poles, too, are fo bad, that they 
muft always bear a low price in the timber market, being fit for little except for pit props, for which the 
thinnings are chiefly ufeful. Larch, which is a far better nurfe, becaufe its light airy foliage and pyramidal 
form offer no hindrance to the action of light and the tree circulation of air, and whofe poles ufually fetch 
a o-ood price, has the fault of being deftitute of leaves in the early fpring, and is, moreover, subject to the 
myfterious and incurable “ rot.” On the other hand, the Deodar combines the graceful form of the Larch 
with the evergreen character of the Scotch Pine. The chief objections to it as a nurfe are its comparatively 
flow growth and its inability to bear wind. It has not half the rapid growth of the Larch in its young ftate, 
and not even nearly that of Auftriaca and Laricio. But its incapacity to ftand wind is a ftill more ferious 
r 1 1 objection 
