32 SPRUCE FIE. 



kind are some majestic ones in Sir Henry 

 Fletcher's, Bart., park, at Ashley, "Walton- 

 on-Thames, wherein there is a heronry. The 

 most perfect tree, though not the largest, that 

 I have met with is growing in the Earl of 

 Roseberry's park, at Bixley Hall, Norfolk, 

 beautifully straight, still more beautiful from 

 its smooth, bright cinnamon bark, and evi- 

 dently containing a great many feet of timber 

 in it ; and I should prefer felling sudTwhile 

 the sap was active. 



SPRUCE MR. 



I should not venture to plant this species 

 of the fir tribe unless I could give it, in such 

 a climate as ours, a good situation as to soil, 

 and a southerly or easterly aspect. It was 

 planted extensively on some parts of the Taxal 

 plantations, and flourished healthy and lux- 

 uriant among oaks on these aspects during 

 the seventeen years of my residence there, 

 about the close of which these evergreens 



