Rockingham post-dispatch., 1922-10-19
cEDRus DEoDoRA
Interesting Comment by Prof. Coker
of University, ON the Splendid
Cedar Tree in the H !. c. Wall
Yard. 1xx~

Last April Prof. w. C. Cokef, of
the University faculty, was in
Rockingham comforting with the
city school trustees regarding the
laying off of the new school
grounds. While here he was shown
the remarkable cedar tree in the
front yard of Henry C. Walls prop
erty, opposite the Methodist church.
Dr. Coker pronounced this tree as
one of the finest specimens he had
ever seen, and remarked that the
possession of this tree alone ought
to make Rockingham famous and
noted all over the United States.
DR.. Coker is an authority in bot
any. He is a Kenan professor of
botany at the University, and direc.
tor of the Arboretum there.
The editor of the Post-Dispatch
wrote DIR. Coker after his visit here
and requested him to write at some
length concerning this tree. We are
giving below DR.. Coker's reply:
Dear Mr.. London:
Il take pleasure in answering
yours of April 18th. The large
cedar in MIR. Wallis yard | take to
be the deodora cedar (Cedrus dso-
dora), but there is so little differ
ence between this and the Mount
Atlas cedar Cedrus atIantica) and
the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus Leb-
anil that it is practically impossible
to separate them without fruit.
These three trees above mentioned
are the only real cedars of the
world, and all are natives of North
America, Asia MiRor or the Hima-
lavas. Other trees called cedar, as
our common red cedar, are not true
cedars. The deodora is native of
India and the Himalaya mountains
and at its native home attains a
height Of t5e feet and a trunk cir.
conference of 30 feet. The durable
and fragrant wood is OF much value
but OF course this is not of much
consequence in this country, where
they are only grown as ornamen-
tails. Your Rockingham tree is the
largest one of the group that / have
seen in America and makes a most
impressive appearance. In Eng
land, where they reach much
larger size than in the eastern
States, true cedars are much used
and are most impressive objects in
the old parks and gardens, such as
Kew Gardens and the grounds OF
Warwick castle. When young the
trees arc pyrami6al, but in age be-
comes exactly the reverse, the tops
spreading broadly and in many
cases forming remarkably pictur-
esque flat tops without lower
branches. III fhe grounds OF War
wick Castle the tops of these tall
and majestic trees are the favorite
hauIits of scores OF peacocks. Their
gliding in long incline from these
tree tops to the ground made a last
ing impression on my memory. In
the eastern United States these trees
do not live, as a rule, to very
great age. Perhaps you could get
very near the exact age Of your.
Rockingham specimen by interview
ing seme of the oldest inhabitants.
In Hartsville, s. c., we had a fine
specimen on my fathers lawn,
which was planted by him, but af-
ter about 30 years OF healthy
growth it suddenly died one sum.
nder without apparent cause:
| enjoyed my visit to Rockingham
very much. ! do not believe that I
have seen a better looking town Of
its size in the southern states.
Yours very sincerely,
w. C. C0KER.
Y. 49,. .Sst E1tu Al ~ hnr;i 60 1n0a