This species is found in the United States of America and Canada, on dry, rocky hill-sides, but it is not now plentiful in any particular district of these countries. It is also found in the West India Islands, where it attains a considerable height, though according to Mr. Brown it does not even in its native woods ever attain the size of a large tree, as there he never found it much above 45 or 50 feet high, with a stem of from 12 to 18 inches in diameter, and generally smaller. Indeed in this country, where it was introduced so early as 1664, it appears to thrive as well as it does in its native woods.*

The tree produces excellent timber, and is much sought after in America for wardrobes, drawers, boxes, and various kinds of furniture, being avoided by all insects owing to its bitter taste. It is best known in this country from its being used for covering black-lead pencils.

The wood is light, brittle, and nearly uniform in texture; the colour is a brownish red, but the sap-wood is nearly white; the odour is strong and peculiar, which renders it unfit to be used for internal joiners' work in any considerable quantity. The red cedar is imported into this country in pieces of from 6 to 10 inches square.

The weight of a cubic foot when dry is about 40 1/2 lbs.