294 



STUDIES OF NATURE, 



penfate, in his favour, the inconveniences of cli- 

 mate. 



Though this manner of ftudying her Works 

 be now held in contempt by mod Naturalifts, to 

 it, however, fhall our refearches be limited. We 

 have jufl been confidering plants according to their 

 fhape and fize, after the manner of gardeners ; we 

 proceed farther to examine them as is done by the 

 wood-feller, the huntfman, the carpenter, the 

 fiïherman, the fhepherd, the failor, nay, the nofe- 

 gay-maker. It is of fmall importance whether wç 

 are learned, provided we ceafe not to be men. 



It is in the countries of the North, and on the 

 iummit of cold mountains, that the pine grows, 

 and the fir, and the cedar, and mod part of refi- 

 nous trees, which fhelter man from the fnows by 

 the clofenefs of their foliage, and which furnifli 

 him, during the Winter feafon, with torches, and 

 fuel for his fire-fide. It is very remarkable, that 

 the leaves of thofe ever-green trees are filiform, 

 and extremely adapted, by this configuration, 

 which pofTefTes the farther advantage of reverbe- 

 rating the heat, like the hair of animals, for refift- 

 ance to the impetuofity of the winds, that beat 

 with peculiar violence on elevated fituations. The 

 Swedifh Naturalifts have obferved, that the fatteft 

 pines are to be found on the dryeft and moftfandy 



regions 



