OF THE COUNTY OF DOWN. 157 



Fir tree; pintts. Of this tree there are many kinds 

 cultivated in this county ; the Scotch fir is the mofl 

 general ; being fb hardy, and affording at an early age 

 fo much fhelter, has given it a preference to every 

 other kind, as a nurfe to more tender trees ; being 

 merely planted for that purpofe, great care fhould be 

 taken, left it fhould fmother what it is meant to pre- 

 ferve ; which it often does, by being planted too thick, 

 and allowed to ftand too long. How valuable a tree 

 it is in itfelf, when planted in good foil, and allowed to 

 ftand until of a proper age, may be feen in many parts 

 of this county, but no where to greater advantage than 

 along the river fide at Redemon. Both the filver and 

 fpruce firs have grown, in proper foils, to a very con- 

 flderable fize ; whilft young they are mofl ornamental, 

 but as they advance they lofe much of their beauty, by 

 lofing their under-branches, efpecially when planted 

 thick. In ftrong foils, they grow to a confiderable fize, 

 and are excellent timber. The Balm of Gilead fir, 

 though beautiful when young, feldom furvives above 

 twenty years ; and the Weymouth, though a quick 

 grower, has not generally fucceeded ; the largeft I 



have feen are at Hillfborough, but they are furpafTed 

 



in the fame foil both by the fpruce and filver firs. The 

 firft Weymouth pine was planted in England, at Long- 

 leat in Wilt/hire, by the firft Lord Weymouth, in 

 1696, the old ftump ftill remains. The Pinafter has 

 fucceeded remarkably well at Tulhmorc park, where 



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