distinguish, these three Cedars from each other, we must also refer to what we say under the Deodar.
The most distinctive of these are the tabulated form of the Lebanon Cedar, the red margins
to the scales of its cones when green, the broader and more abruptly expanded wing of the
seed, and the fewer rows of stomata on the leaves; but none of these are constant, and,
consequently, none of them can be absolutely relied on ; but, at least, it is very unlikely that
a deviation from the ordinary character should take place in them all at the same time.
Fig. 19 shews the relative form (copied from Sir Joseph Hooker's paper) of the expansion Fi& ">•
of the wing of the three Cedars: the thick line shews that of the Cedar of Lebanon, the shaded line that
of the Deodar, and the dotted line that of the Atlas Cedar.
Notwithstanding the usual tabulated habit of the Cedar, which is so universal as to have established
that form as its stereotyped character, very great variations take place in it. Loudon mentions that at
Pepper Harrow, in Surrey, the seat of Lord Viscount Middleton, there are a great many Cedars, some
of which are quite fastigiate in their habit of growth, resembling immense Cypresses, while others have
the branches depressed at their insertion in the trunk, and their extremities pendulous like those of the
Hemlock Spruce. At Dropmore there are three Cedars growing only a few paces from each other (part
of an avenue of Cedars planted by the late Lord Grenville not fifty years ago) which form a remarkable
contrast: one of the normal habit, another more like that of the Deodar, and the third of a different
and less expansive habit than either.
When full grown, the Cedar assumes a very majestic appearance. Accustomed of late years to talk
of Wellingtonias 300 and 400 feet in height, we have become rather disposed to underrate what in former
times we should have thought gigantic dimensions. But a tree of any kind, 80 or 100 feet in height, is
in reality something passing common. The trees we see in our parks and woods are rarely above 60
feet high, and after they reach that height, any additional increment bears no just proportion in its effect
upon our mind to its actual increase. The ordinary height of well-grown Cedars is from 50 to 60 feet.
Loudon specifies one at Strathfieldsaye as being the tallest which he knew in this country; it was 108 feet
in height; another at Claremont was 100 feet high, one at Kenwood 95 feet high, and the two largest at
Whitton (115 years old) upwards of 70 feet high, with trunks 14 feet 6 inches in circumference at two
feet from the ground. The handsomest which he knew of was a magnificent specimen at Syon House,
which he figured, and which still bears the palm. Another splendid example stands in a field near
Twickenham. There is an avenue of fine Cedars at Chiswick House, which spread mighty, closelyfeathered
boughs on all sides down to the ground. These, although of good age, still continue rapidly
to increase on every side, the branches encroaching on the surrounding space every year. The oldest
trees in Britain were those at Chelsea, and they did not exceed 50 feet in height. The Gardeners
Chronicle (September 25, 1880) notices a very large, indeed, gigantic specimen, growing in the gardens
of W. Jones Lloyd, Esq., Langleybury, Herts, its huge and massive branches spreading far and wide.
" The tree measures, at 4 feet from the ground, 22 feet 4 inches in girth ; the spreading branches extend
over a space of 105 feet, and its height is 107 feet. The great weight of its branches after heavy rains or
snow-storms is such as to have caused each limb to be tied by iron rods to the main stem, to prevent their
splitting off, whereby upwards of i j ton of iron has been used to secure it, forming quite a network among
the branches. Fine specimens of this size, of such clean growth, are not an everyday occurrence."
In the groves on the mountains of Lebanon they attain an enormous girth, the largest tree being
404 feet in circumfcrence at five feet from the ground, and the rest varying from 18 inches upwards;
but the height of these patriarchs is not correspondent. Mr. Tristram, in his Travels in Palestine,
intitlcd "The Land of Israel," mentions that their height is no greater than that of the younger trees.
Geographical Distribution.—Along with this we have given a Map-Plate, in which we have indicated
the districts occupied by the Deodar, the Cedar of Lebanon, and the Cedar of the Atlas. From this, it
will