CEDRUS LIBANI 
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ington in i860, and his excellent paper, and an admirable survey of the spot made by the latter and Captain 
Maunsell, supply us with as much information on every point connected with them, and the specimens 
which they brought home, and which are now preserved at Kew, tell us as much regarding their age and 
growth, as we can expect to know, until the winds lay low one of the patriarchs, and allow us by inspection 
of the annual rings composing its trunk to obtain positive proof of its age. From Sir Joseph’s paper and 
Admiral Washington’s map, (which, being Government work, may be relied on for absolute accuracy and 
authenticity,) we learn that the number of trees is about four hundred, which are disposed in nine groups, 
corresponding to as many hummocks of moraines. They are of various sizes, from about 18 inches to upwards 
of 40 feet in girth. The= two largest are on the slope north of the chapel, and stand near a boulder. Then, 
a little to the south of -these, and close to the chapel, there is one large tree; and still farther to the south 
and east, on another hummock, three large trees. In all, there are only eight trees which are above 20 feet 
in girth. These we should divide into' two ages : the oldest, consisting of the first three, which were in 
i860 respectively 40 feet, 38.10 feet, and 36.9 feet in girth; the second age, consisting of the next three, 
respectively 33 feet, 29,8 feet, and.28 feet in girth; and a third age, consisting of the remaining two, 22 
and 21 feet in girth. There are only fifteen trees above 15 feet in girth, and these all occur in two of the 
nine clumps, which two contain 180 trees. Only two others exceed 12 feet in girth, and these 
are found in immediately adjoining clumps, one on one side and one on the other of those above 
mentioned. We think, therefore, that we may class them with the rest of the fifteen; they were, perhaps, 
stunted specimens, or possibly exceptional strays of a subsequent growth, which escaped the destruction 
which befell any others of the same age. Deducting the eight of above 20 feet, we should thus have another 
group of seven in number between 15 and 20 feet, or of nine in number between 12 and 20 feet in girth. 
Then there are two eastern clumps containing 163, and five western clumps containing 156 trees, none of 
which were above 12 feet in girth, but of which those to the westward (or down valley) side of the others 
are the smallest. On this side, therefore, says Sir Joseph, the latest addition to the Grove has taken place. 
None of these, however, were less in girth than a foot and a half or thereby. From the annual rings of two 
of the youngest trees, sections of which were brought home by Sir Joseph and Captain Maunsell, we know 
that their age is about 188 years. 
In 1861 the Cedars were visited by Sir John Tobin, of Ballincolly, Cork, and his wife, Lady Tobin. 
The latter says : “The Cedars are of many different growths, and it is utterly in vain to speculate upon the 
distinct antiquity of some of them. The tall and graceful stature of the younger trees, with their dark-leaved 
fan-like boughs, the enormous trunks, some of them more than 40 feet in girth, the gnarled and widely- 
spreading sombre branches of the aged patriarchs, which speak with silent tongue of other days, must almost 
forcibly remind the stranger of their world-renowned and antient glory.” " 
We gather also a little additional information as to the dimensions of some more of these largest 
specimens from a short notice of a visit to the Grove made in 1862 by Mr. Ridgway of Fairlawn. He 
says : “ Of the oldest trees, we could make out only nine, or, at the outside, ten.” Mr. Ridgway measured 
eight of the largest trees at three feet from the ground, and found them to girth as follows : 21 feet, 2 2 feet, 
28 feet, 29 feet 8 inches, 33 feet 4 inches, 36 feet 9 inches, 38 feet 10 inches, and 40 feet respectively. “It 
was impossible for us to have counted the trees, as the snow was three feet deep and soft, and the sides 
of the plateau very steep. I am quite of opinion that the Cedar and Deodar are the same tree. There 
is a young tree growing about 50 yards west of the chapel in the middle of the Grove, of exactly the same 
form and habit as a Deodar in the park here [Fairlawn, near Tunbridge] ; the same graceful drooping 
habit; the same light silvery green ; and having none of the usual rigid horizontal form of the Cedar. The 
remainder of the younger race of trees vary from 5 to 20 feet in girth; some are as tall and branchless as 
Poplars; some not 30 feet high, gnarled and stunted.” f 
* The Land of the Inheritance. By Lady Tobin, 1863, p. 421. 
t Ridgway, in “Gardener’s Chronicle,” 21st June 1862. 
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H 
Mr. 
