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their neighbourhood. So that as the fir-tree 

 is fupported, combined, or ftationed, it forms 

 a pleafmg tint, or a murky fpot. 



A fecond fource of that contempt, in which 

 the Scotch fir is commonly held, is our 

 rarely feeing it in a pifturefque ftate. Scotch 

 firs are feldom planted as Jingle trees, or in 

 a judicious group : but generally in clofe, com- 

 patt bodies , in thick array, which fuffocates, 

 or cramps them; and if they ever get loofe 

 from this bondage, they are already ruined. 

 Their lateral branches are gone, and their 

 ftems are drawn into poles, on which 

 their heads appear ftuck as on a center. 

 Whereas if the tree had grown in it's natural 

 ftate, all mifchief had been prevented. It's 

 ftem would have taken an eafy fweep; and 

 it's lateral branches, which naturally grow 

 with as much beautiful irregularity as thofe 

 of deciduous trees, would have hung loofely, 

 and negligently; and the more fo, as there 

 is fomething peculiarly light, and feathery in 

 it's foliage. I mean not to aflert, that every 

 Scotch fir, tho 'in a natural ftate, would pof- 

 fefs thefe beauties : but it would at leaft, 

 have the chance of other trees; and I have 

 feen it, tho indeed but rarely, in fuch a ftate, 



as 



