CHAP, in S Y L V A 229 



8. The fir grows tallest, being planted reasonable 

 close together ; but suffers nothing to thrive under 

 them. The pine not so inhospitable ; for (by Pliny's 

 good leave) it may be sown with any tree, all things 

 growing well under its shade, and excellent in woods ; 

 hence Claudian, 



1 The friendly pine the mighty oak invites. 



9. They both affect the cold, high, and rocky 

 grounds, abies in montibus altis : Those yet which grow 

 on the more southern, and less expos'd quarters, a 

 little visited with the beams of the sun, are found to 

 thrive beyond the other, and to afford better timber ; 

 and this was observed long since by Vitruvius of the 

 infernates (as he calls them) in comparison with the 

 supernaies, which growing on the Northern and shady 

 side of the Appennines, were nothing so good, which 

 he imputes to the want of due digestion. They thrive 

 (as we said) in the most sterile places, yet will grow 

 in better, but not in over-rich, and pinguid. The 

 worst land in Wales bears (as I am told) large pine ; 

 and the fir according to his aspiring nature, loves also 

 the mountain more than the valley ; but tv roTg TraAtcnaoie 

 oXwc ou ^weTot, // cannot endure the shade ^ as Theophras- 

 tus observes, de PL 1. 4. c. i. But this is not rigidly 

 true ; for they will grow in consort, till they even 

 shade and darken one another, and will also descend 

 from the hills, and succeed very well, being desirous 

 of plentiful waterings, till they arrive to some com- 

 petent stature ; and therefore they do not prosper so 

 well in an over sandy and hungry soil, or gravel, as in 

 the very entrails of the rocks, which afford more drink 



1 Et comitem quercum pinus arnica trahit. 



