These were made to stand the climate only by means of covers made of branches, and fastened
round the trees and above them. In the year 1830 they were about 40 feet high, and sheltering
had become extremely difficult and expensive. In 1836 or 1837, owing either to the usual precautions
having been neglected, or to the winter having been unusually severe, all six trees were frozen, dried up,
and died.
In Denmark, Prof. Orsted tells us that it is only by great care and skill that the tree can be kept
alive.
We have never yet met with or heard of any specimens in Holland, nor do we recollect of any in
Belgium, although, as it grows at Aix-la-Chapelle, it will doubtless also live in that country.
Messrs. Henkell and Hochstetter state that a stately Cedar, about 60 feet high, is growing at Bollweiler
in Elsass, in the garden of Baumann & Son, which Joseph Baumann, the founder of that
gardening house, planted in the year 1734.* But there must be some mistake as to this tree, or else it
must be no longer in existence, and another must hold its place ; for M. A. K. Baumann replies to the
inquiries of M. Vilmorin about it, that the tree now in existence at Bollweiler was planted in 1804 by his
father, Joseph Baumann, who had received it from André Thouin, director of the Jardin des Plantes at
Paris. The tree very soon lost its leader, in consequence of which the stem, which is now 2 feet 8 inches
in diameter, branches off at 16 or 17 feet from the ground. It is nevertheless a fine tree, which has borne
cones for several years past, but almost no growing seeds.
Many other fine specimens of Cedrus Libani are to be found in Elsass, chiefly in the neighbourhood
of Strasburgh.
The tree is common, and thrives well in many parts of Northern Italy. Loudon notes one at
Monza " twenty-four years planted, 24 feet high, and the diameter of the trunk 16 inches, and of the
head 24 feet." It still survives, a large but not very high tree. Other good trees may be seen in Turin
and at Masse, near Caluso.
We do not know whether it has been introduced into Spain. The Atlas species might easily be
brought into, and would doubtless thrive in the mountains of Andalusia.
Professor Asa Gray and Mr. Meehan, two of the best American authorities, inform us that young
plants exist in the United States of America; but old or fine specimens are not to be met with, as they
had never seen specimens in America above a dozen feet in height.
It has been observed in France, and the same remark applies also to Britain, that although the
Cedar is a mountain tree, the finest specimens are to be found only in plains and valleys, or on the
declivity of hills of moderate height. M. Vilmorin remarks that some Cedars which he has observed, and
which stand in lofty and exposed situations, are injured by frost almost every year, and lose a part of their
foliage, so as to have some branches quite bare, like those of a Larch. New leaves are produced during
the spring and summer, but the trees look always in very poor condition. They bear no cones, although
more than fifty years old, and the male catkins are very small, The reason of this doubtless is, that
although the Cedar is a mountain tree, it has already in France received the equivalent of elevation in the
more northern latitude. To give it in France the same elevation that it has in Syria, would be practically
to give conditions equivalent to double its elevation in Syria.
With regard to the placing or disposal of Cedars when planting them, one thing to be remembered
is, that it is throwing them away to form close clumps or ordinary plantations of them. So planted, they
have no more effect than Larch or any other Fir. They get drawn up, and lose their characteristic habit.
To give them fair play, and turn them to the best advantage, they should be planted sufficiently wide
apart to attain their full growth without interruption. It is a tree which, to come to perfection, must
have plenty of air and space. One most effective distribution is that of single trees on a lawn, or in an
open park. Another is a wide avenue with the trees not too near each other. An example of the fine
effects
effects of such an avenue, even in its early stage, may be seen at Dropmore, where one not much more
than forty years of age is composed of trees already upwards of 36 feet in height. Another striking
example of the effect produced by the Cedar, and of the beautiful forms which it assumes when left to
itself, may also be seen in the trees on the margin of the lake at Elvaston Castle, an engraving of which
appears in the Gardeners Chronicle of 27th July 1878.
It does not seem to be particular as to the geological formations on which it grows. It thrives on the
chalk and oolite, as does the Deodar, but does not affect them more than any other formation.
It has the advantage of being very free from insect enemies, and rabbits do not care for it.
Like other Conifers, the Cedar cannot bear pruning, as is well illustrated by the evil effects narrated
by Miller to have followed the cutting-in of the lower branches of two of the Chelsea trees, to give light
to an orangery.
It seems also to be subject to few diseases. Almost the only one which it has been said to be
peculiarly liable to, is the attack of root-fungi. The Rev. M. J. Berkeley {Gardeners Chronicle, 12th
Jan. 1867, p. 26) has recorded instances of death of Deodars, Cypresses, Scotch Firs, &c, from this
cause; and the Earl of Shannon corroborates his statements from his own experience in the south of
Ireland. He says :—
" I have within the past thirty years planted large tracts of land, much of which had been previously occupied by trees. In all varieties of
soil, whether on limestone, or red sandstone, or clay, or dry or wet land, I find the same tendency. But what is mysterious to me, is that the
disease seems to attack only particular varieties. I find the Scotch Fir, the Cedar, and occasionally, but very rarely, the Silver Fir, suffer. I
have never yet succecded in detecting a death of the Spruce Fir, nor of any of the hard-wood trees, such as Oak, Ash, Elm, and so forth.
Shrubs also appear to escape entirely. It seems to be wholly confined to the Pinus tribe (as I find Pinus insignis to suffer severely), and to the
Cedars of all sorts, and Larch. I cannot assign any reason why the Fungus should attach more to these kinds than to others. The result of
my own observation is, that the mischief invariably arises from the roots of former trees being decayed, and I find that it is always worst where the
previous plantations have been old and decaying, than where the trees were young and vigorous. I rarely see it on land not previously planted,
and where it does exist, I suspect it to have come on the roots of the newly-planted trees. I remark, too, that 1 seldom or never observe it to
arise from the roots of a growing tree, cut down to make room for younger plants."—" (Gardeners' Chronicle," 24th Jan, 1867, p. 78.)
In propagating the seeds they should not be taken out of their cones until they are to be sown. In
the cones they will keep for five or six years. If they have been taken out, however, they will not sustain
much damage if they are kept in a diy airy place.
M. Loiseleur-Deslongchamps gives full instructions for extracting the seeds from the cones, when
pulled before they begin to open voluntarily—such as splitting up the axes with an iron spike, drilling a
hole through the middle, and such contrivances. The simplest and easiest mode of opening them, as well
as the cones of all other Pines which are close, is to steep them in water over night, and lay them before
the fire the next day, taking the precaution, however, not to steep and open them until they are ready to
be sown.
The seed should be sown about the middle of February in common loam, and covered with dry soil
about half an inch deep. If the soil is sandy, it should be pressed down firmly on the seeds after sowing,
and no water should be given until they come up, and for a short time after. If the ground seems dry,
rather shade it than water. It is when the root first begins to perform its functions that caution should
be specially used in giving water. It is of less importance while the young plant can still depend upon the
nourishment supplied by the seed; but when it solely depends on the young root, water in place of nourishment
is absorbed by the root, and the plant becomes weak and damps off. The best soil for the Cedar is
a light loam. It grafts and inarches readily on the Larch and Deodar, and also, it is said, on the Silver
and Spruce Firs; but we have no proof of this latter statement.
The Cedar shews considerable variety, not only in the habit of the tree, but also in the colour and
character of its foliage. These have been noted by horticulturists, and have received designations corresponding
to their peculiar character. There is a dwarf variety known as Cedrus Libani nana; a silvery
blue variety named Cedrus Libani glauca; a pyramidal variety, Cedrus Libani pyramidalis; a weeping
variety,