J3 6 OF TREES AND PLANTS. 



broughjijire. Between Morpeth and Alnivick there was a fine mew 

 of wood, and many parks ; but little between Alnivick and Ber- 

 ivick (c). 



Under the authority and countenance of the legiflature in tl* 

 reign of K. Edward VI. upon the divifion and cnclofure of pro- 

 perty, our woods increafed, and their owners began to think 

 them worthy of their care and cultivation ; all the vale-foils, and 

 many declivities and hills, being naturally inclined to wood. 

 The houfes built fince that period, Ihew its plenty, particularly 

 of oak; the planks thick and broad ; the beams of a furprizing 

 length and magnitude, two often lying near one another, where 

 one might ferve ; ftrength and fecurity being then preferred to 

 order, and the beauty of defign. 



was a favourite tree with our anceftors in the days of 

 j-chery, fome of which are Hill remaining, of a great fize ; the 

 larger! in the church-yard at Beltingham. In the cliffs, on the 

 weflern margin of the Allen, they grow naturally, their roots 

 and fibres receiving their nourifhment from fuch light earth as 

 they find between the crevices and broken ilrata of the rocks ; 

 their verdure beautiful by the pafling ftream. 



Hollies feem alfo to be as natural to our alpine foils, on the 

 banks of rivers. The largeft and handfomeft I have obferved, are 

 on the eaft-fide of Weft Allen, at Monk, oppofite to Whitfield-ha\\. 



Silver-firs grow to an extraordinary fize near the hills of Cheviot. 

 Before the weft front of Brandon-White Houfe, there are two very 

 jlarge,; one of them judged fit to be a mail for a 20 gun fhip ; 



(c) Lei. Itin. Vol. 7. p. 63. 



being 



