CEDAR, various cone-bearing evergreen trees and their wood; also several non-conifer ous trees. The most widely known are prob ably the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), the deodar, or goa-tree, of India (C. deodara), and the African or Mount Atlas cedar (C. atlan tica). These are large ornamental evergreen trees with wide-spreading branches, which give them a form distinct from most other cone bearing trees. They are sometimes planted in southern California and the Gulf States, and the last-mentioned species even as far north as Philadelphia, where it can stand the winter in sheltered situations. They are readily propa gated by seeds, and thrive in well-drained, loamy soil. From ancient times their odorous, light-red wood has been used for fine furniture and interior house-finish. The white gum of the cedar of Lebanon, which oozes from the trunk and branches, was formerly employed in embalming, but the forests of this tree have be come so much reduced that neither the resin nor the oil made from it are in commerce. The other species are most abundant, the deodar in India and the Atlas cedar in northern Africa. Their timber is widely used for fine cabinet work.
The red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a well-known very variable tree found from Canada to Florida, and westward to the Great Plains. It attains a height of about 80 feet; has a conical more or less spreading head with upright limbs; evergreen, spiny, pointed leaves and bluish globular fruits covered with bloom.
The wood is largely used for fence-posts, lead pencils, etc. The white cedar (Chamecyparis thyoides) is also a well-known American tree found in wet ground from New Hampshire to Florida. It attains a height of 70 to 80 feet; has erect spreading branches, thin and flat pendulous twigs, fragrant green leaves, and tiny bluish-purple cones covered with bloom. The trees are highly ornamental, and, being hardy, are general favorites in the North. The wood is especially useful in moist places. The name white cedar is often applied to the arbor vita (Thuja occidentalis). The yellow cedar (Chamacyparis nootkatensis), a common tree on the Pacific coast from Oregon to Alaska, is valued, in cabinet work and interior house finishing, for its light-yellow wood, which takes a high Like its relative mentioned above, it is often planted for ornament. In its home it often exceeds 100 feet in height. The best known non-coniferous trees that are sometimes called cedar are probably Cedrela odorata (see CEDAR, BARBADOES) and Cedrela toona, the Australian cedar. See Tom.; JUNIPER.