E 307 ] 



trenched into its broken ftrata of fand or gravel, 

 under the protection of the firs, have laid hold, 

 though (lowly, of the foil, and, accelerated by the 

 fuperior growth of the firs, have proportionally 

 rilcn, until they wanted an enlargement of fpace for 

 growth, when the firs were cut down. 





It is fcarcely necefTary r.o obferve, that when this 

 refinous tree is felled, the roots decay in the ground, 

 and furnifh by that decay a new fupport to the foil 

 on which the beeches grow ; by which contingency, 

 they receive an added vigour, as well as the favour- 

 able concomitants of an enlarged fpace in earth and 

 air; and by being now difincumbered from their 

 former fupporters, their growth becomes more and 

 more obvious ; they are ornamental to the country, 

 promife in time to be ufeful timber, and probably 

 may difleminate their fpecies where they would not 

 have been expected to fiouriJli, but under the fhade 

 and encouragement of the firs. And thefe firs hav- 

 ing met with no obftacle from the infant timbers 

 they encouraged, their boles are now converted to 

 pods, rails, and various other ufes, and their brandies 

 have been bound into thoufands of bavins, thac 

 have heated the ovens, or have been burnt on the 

 hearths of the farmers and cottagers around. 



JOHN YVAGSTAFFE. 



Vol. IV. X Article 



