PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 177 



sometime after the rebellion of '41, great tracts and scopes of ground have been 

 clear'd and made fitt for the plough and syth, that were taken up before, and 

 cover'd with vast thickets and forrests of oak trees. When I say we find our country 

 thus stript and depriv'd of what was once its glory and advantage, and that we have 

 now scarce an oak or Firr left (comparatively speaking), but what may barely 

 convince us that they have been the naturall product of this kingdom, we cann't 

 too much resent the profuseness and negligence of some ages now past, nor enough 

 regret the straits and exigencies we of this labour under when we are forc'd to 

 supply ourselves from Norway and Scotland with materialls for building, &c. ; which 

 we should never have wanted had there been the least care taken to have preserv'd 

 and continued the growth of our own country down to us. 



Our late parliaments were, doubtless, very sensible of this our grievance when they 

 so strictly enjoyned and recommended to us the improvement and preservation of 

 such forrest trees as in acts fram'd for that purpose are exprest : taking care, among 

 others, to nominate such trees as had little to recommend them, more than, by 

 their speedy growth, they might the sooner answer our present necessities. Where 

 should we search into and examine all the excellencies and particular uses of each 

 of the kinds of trees in that act specify'd, we shall certainly find none in all respects 

 more valuable and more deservedly to be esteem'd by us than the Firr, which Mr. 

 Evlin, in his Silva (or Discourse of Forrest Trees), stiles the most ornamentall, 

 usefull, and profitable tree, zealously recommending it to us, in the words of an 

 experienc'd northern gentleman — 



lstly. For the facility of its propagation. 



2ndly. The nature of its growth, so as to affect such places where nothing else 

 will thrive. 



3dly. Its uniformity and beauty. 



4thly. Its perpetual verdure. 



5thly. Its sweetness. 



6thly. Its fruitfullness, affording seed, gumm, fuel, and timber of all other 

 woods the most usefull and easie to work ; closing up all in a peculiar esteem for 

 that which he calls the Scotch Firr ; preferring it to all others for its growing so 

 erect, and fixing itself so stoutly that it needs little or no support. To whose de- 

 served commendations we may very materially subjoyn the success and incou- 

 ragement some gentlemen of this kingdom have had in planting and propagating 

 of this kind of Firr, some of which, not above fifty years old, afford now a scant- 

 ling fit almost for any use or purpose whatever ; and others, of but thirty years 

 standing, will yield summers and principles for any ordinary building, and masts 

 for boats of severall tunns burthen ; which for the speediness of their growth is as 

 much, perhaps, as can be said for any forrest tree this part of the world affords. 



The Firrs now mentioned are such as have been produced from seed brought 

 hither out of Scotland, and appear (to those who have seen both) to be of the very 

 same species with those yet growing in Connaught; which (beyond what Mr. 

 Evlin has already hinted) may be a further inducement to us to propagate this kind 

 of Firr Tree, thereby making this kingdom a nursery of such trees, to which it had 

 formerly been a prolifick and indulgent mother. 



And now, tho we are satisfy'd that where these Firr Trees grow upon the blake 

 and barren rocks of Norway, Scotland, and other most cold places of Europe, the 

 young seedlins and plants, of all sizes, are found coming up as produc'd by the 

 seed blown and scatter'd about by the wind or other accidents ; yet when the very 

 same seed is carried down to the low lands, or brought over to this kingdom, they 

 require some attendance, and must be manag'd after a manner somewhat peculiar 

 to themselves ; which being but barely hinted or toucht at by such books as have 

 hitherto treated of forrest trees, its presumed these following directions and obser- 

 vations (gather'd and gained by some years' experience) will be acceptable and 

 prove usefull to those for the present whose judgement and experience may in time 

 be thought needless. 



To begin, then, with the seed. 



NATURE OF THE FIRR SEED. 



Its observable that while all other forrest trees (growing in this part of the world) 

 cast or shed their seeds, masts, &c, in autumn (each distinct seed or kernel having 



