PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
49 
Gardens, which were certainly planted in 1683. Since that 
time the tree has proved so suitable to the English soil that it 
is grown everywhere, and everywhere asserts itself as the king 
of evergreen trees, whether grown as a single tree on a lawn, or 
mixed in large numbers with other trees, as at Highclere Park, 
in Hampshire (Lord Carnarvon’s). Among English Cedar 
trees there are probably none that surpass the fine specimens 
at Warwick Castle, which owe, however, much of their beauty 
to their position on the narrow strip of land between the Castle 
and the river. I mention these to call attention to the plea¬ 
sant coincidence (for it is nothing more) that the most striking 
descriptions of the Cedar are given by Shakespeare to the then 
owner of the princely Castle of Warwick (Nos. 3 and 4). 
The mediaeval belief about the Cedar was that its wood was 
imperishable. “ Haec Cedrus, A e sydyretre, et est talis nature 
quod nunquam putrescet in aqua nec in terra ” (English 
Vocabulary—15th cent.); but as a timber tree the English- 
grown Cedar has not answered to its old reputation, so that 
Dr. Lindley called it “ the worthless though magnificent Cedar 
of Lebanon.” 
Cbern? 
(1) 
So we grew together, 
Like to a double Cherry, seeming parted, 
But yet a union in partition ; 
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem. 
( 3 ) 
( 4 ) 
’Tis as like you 
As Cherry is to Cherry .—Henry VIII, v. 1, 170. 
E 
