76 



As most of the foregoing observations 

 prove, that Enghsh Firs grow rather too 

 fast^ than too slow ; it will scarcely be 

 doubted, that they may be produced suf- 

 jiciently large. Indeed the fact is demon- 

 strated in so many places, as to silence in- 

 credulity. We shall, therefore, mention 

 only two instances, where the trees are 

 certainly large enough ; not only for ordi- 

 nary, but extraordinary purposes, not ex- 

 cepting masts for ships. The first is in the 

 park at Woburn, where we find 'very large 

 ones ; — the largest, a Silver Fir, may be 

 seen, for many miles, rearing its tall head 

 above an}^ other tree around it. The di- 

 mensions in March, 1805, were as under : 



Feet. Inch. 



Circumference just above the swell 



of the roots 9 9 



Ditto, at 27 feet high, being where 



the first branches break out . . 8 2 



Whole height of the tree 107 



