Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-03-11
MESSRS. Golfer & SCOOTER, Editors.
" LIST idle Ambition her baubles pursue,
While Wisdom looks down with dsdain,
The home Of the farmer has charms ever new,
Whore health, peace and competence reign"
4 N0RLE TREE.

From the last Patent Office (Agrcultu-
raD Report, we extract the description OF
noble tree recently brought over to .Ameri-
ca, and said to be admirably adapted to our
Southern latitude:
"The Deoaar or Indian Cedar (Cedrus
Deodara) bids fair to prove valuable ac-
QUESTION, not only to the list Of our orna-
mental, but to that of our valuable timber
trees. This lofty and very graceful object
is native of the Himalayas, Nepal, IA
maon, and of regions as far north as Cash
mere, atelevations of from 1000 to $4,000
feet above the level Of the sea, where it at
tains a2great altitude, even surprising in
dimensions the cedar of Lebanon, rarely
falling short of height Of one hundred and
fifty feet, with trunk thirty or more feet
in circumference Its wood is described as
Of frst.rate quality, being compact, resinouss,
highly fragrant, Of deep rich color, which
has been compared to that of polished
brown agate. It is also Of the most dura-
BILE nature instances being on record where
it's timber, employed in the roofs of build
ings, was found perfectly free from decay
after period Of upwards Of two hundred
years; and pieces of it from the Zein-ul-
kadal bridge, in Cashmere, proved but little
decayed, although exposed to the action OF
water for four hundred years.
The lohiness and spreading branches of
this tree accord admirable we'll with the
description given of the cedar in Holy
Writ, but not with the "Cedar of Lebanon"
of the present day. It's wood, which is re-
garded as almost incorruptible, from its
hardness and the fineness Of its grain, per-
haps, could be as easily wrought as that
employed in the construction of Solomon's
Temple. The principal difficulty: with ref
erence to its being identical with the cedar
mentioned in the sacred writings, is: that
it has never been found on, nor near, Mount
Lebanon; yet it might have formerly grown
there in abundance, and subsequently dis
appeared, and given place to another species,
as is frequently the case in many parts of
the globe in modern times. 1t is regarded
by the :Hindoos as sacred tree, and, III
some places, is highly venerated, never being
used, except to burn as incense on OCCASIONS
of great ceremony; but, in others, it is
employed for the purposes of construction,
as a valuable timber tree
In addition to the superiority Of its wood,
the deodar is highly ornamental, and sufi
ciently hardy to thrive in any part of the
United States south of the Delaware, except
at great elevations. Much encouragement
has recently been given to its propagation
in England, for its timber. Several thou
sand bushels of the seeds were imported
some four years ago from India, by the
way of Egypt, and placed in the hands Of
reliable nurserymen, to cultivate, on condi-
ton that they should return one-half Of the
product to the government at the expiration
of three years. By this means, upwards
OF million seedlings Of this valuable tree
have been added to the wealth of the king
dom, many of which, at some future day,
may prove subservient to the purposes of
construction or the defence of the country.
Would not this example be worthy the imi-
tation Of our own government, by estab-
fishing plantations of the dcodar, as well as
of the livc-oak, in favorable localities, at
accessible points along the seaboard of our
Middle and Southern States? No branch
of agriculture claims q stronger degree Of
public attention than the planting Of timber,
which, in the present state Of our country,
would form the true basis of national pros
perity. in preserving its peace and perpethi-
ty by the strength and permanency Of its
naval force. Though, in times Of peace, a
great number of ships of war NAV not be
deemed necessary, yet the old adage is
true: "IIe who has his sword by his side,
seldom wants to use it, With equal force
we are impressed with the wise admonition
of Galgacus, the brave leader of the Gale
domains, who fourished in the first century:
6 Think of your ancestors; think of pos
tcrity."