CHAP. CXIII.

CONI'FERffi. JUNI'PERUS.

2497

small town of the district of Maine , at the mouth of the Kennebeck; wheneit spreads, without interruption, to Cape Florida, and thence round theGulf of Mexico , to beyond St. Bernard’s Bay, a distance of more than 3000miles. As it retires from shore, it becomes gradually less common and lessvigorous; “ and, in Virginia and the more southern states, it is rare at. thepoint where the tide ceases to flow in the rivers : farther inland, it is seen onlyin the form of a shrub, in open dry sandy places. In the western states, it isconfined to spots where the calcareous rock shows itself naked, or is so thinlycovered with mould, as to forbid the vegetation of other trees. Though thered cedar grows naturally in the district of Maine, and in the islands of LakeChamplain, it is repressed by a winter as intense as that of the north of Ger-many; and developes itself less vigorously than in Virginia and farther south,where the soil and climate are favourable to the growth of the tree, and theperfection of its wood. Upon the downs, it is often buried in the sand castup by the waves, except the summit of the branches, which appear like youngtrees above the surface. When unencumbered with sand, as in the middle ofthe islands, and on the borders of the narrow sounds which flow between themand the main, it attains the height of 40 ft. or 45 ft.; but it would be difficultto meet with trees of this size northward of the river St. Mary, within theancient limits of the United States .” ( Michx .) According to Pursh, it isfound in dry and rocky woods and fields, from the province of Maine toGeorgia. It is mentioned by Parkinson ; but he says that he has only seenthe wood. It is said, in the Hortus Kewensis, to have been introduced before1664, by Evelyn; and it has long been one of the commonest evergreensin British shrubberies. It endures the open air in Paris, and in CentralGermany .

Properties and Uses. The name of red cedar has reference to the heartwood of this tree, which is of a beautiful red, while the sap wood is perfectlywhite. It is so strong and durable, that it would be preferred, in America , toevery other kind of wood for many rural purposes, if it were not become soscarce in that country as to be very dear. According to Michaux, the barriersof the side walks in the streets of Philadelphia are made of this wood : theyare 10 ft. or 11 ft. long, and 8 in. wide; and they are sold at 80 cents each;while those made of white cedar cost only 16 or 17 cents. The wood of thered cedar is admirably fitted for subterranean water-pipes; but it is rarelyused for that purpose, from the difficulty of procuring trunks of sufficient size.The wood of the red cedar grown in the southern maritime states is reckonedthe best; and it is used, combined with live oak, for the upper part of theframes of vessels; it is also generally used, in the southern states, for coffins.In Philadelphia the turners make their large stop-cocks of it; they alsomake very elegant little tubs, neatly wrought, and hooped with brass, resem-bling the Scotch bickers, of alternate staves of the heart and sap wood. Itmakes admirable fuel; and, when used for this purpose on board the steam-boats, the volumes of smoke which issue from the boiler furnaces are said toperfume the air for several miles in the track of the boat, or in the directionof the wind. The timber is imported into England for the manufacture ofblack-lead pencils; though the Bermuda juniper is preferred for that purpose,in Britain , the red cedar it is not planted as a timber tree; though, fromthe size which it attains in deep dry sandy soils, it might be worth while toplant it in masses for this purpose. As an ornamental tree, or large shrub,■t is highly valued, either for planting singly on lawns, or in groups alongwith other trees and shrubs. It is more especially adapted for groupingwith other Cupressinae, the pine and fir tribe, and the yew.

Soil, Propagation , Culture, Sic., as in the common juniper.

Statistics. In the Environs of London . At Ham House, Essex, it is 38 fit. high, with a trunk 1 ft.am. in diameter; in the Fulham Nursery, 12 years planted, it is 15 ft. high. —South of London . In47 at ®icton, 10 years planted, it is 12 ft. high. In Hampshire , at Strathfieldsaye, it is

in. high, with a trunk 2ft. in diameter. In Somersetshire , at Nettlecombe, 60 years planted, it is/ugh, diameter of the trunk 2 ft., and of the head 25 ft. In Surrey , at Bagshot Park, 20 years

Planted, it is 22 ft. high. In Sussex, at Westdean, If years planted, it is 29 ft. high_North of

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