SOILS. 55 



On thin soils, and in bleak situations, it grows 

 slowly ; and may therefore become the best 

 timber of any, on sueh : but here it becomes 

 unsightly. 



It cannot be cultivated in this country with 

 such advantage as the Scotch Fir, in respect 

 of timber ; but as an ornamental tree, it out- 

 does it, where the soil is favourable. From 

 this tree, pitch is also extracted in great 

 abundance. 



AMERICAN SPRUCE. 



This tree seems to affect most a deep 

 black loam of a middling texture, and which 

 is also sub-humid of itself, but does not re- 

 tain stagnant water. It will also thrive well 

 on sandy or gravelly loams of a moist na- 

 ture. On dry shallow soils, it languishes; 

 nor will it thrive on very exposed sites. In 

 deep, sub-humid vallies, are to be found 

 those most stately in this country. It re- 

 quires full space ; otherwise it becomes very 

 unsighly, even in youth. 



There are two varieties, the Black and the 

 White ; which differ in no material point, 

 except in the colour of the cones, by which 



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