THE FIR. 141 



THE FIR. 



THOUGH the Fir will grow in all parts of the 

 kingdom, and is as useful in clothing the barren 

 wolds of Yorkshire as the rugged mountains of Scot- 

 land, it perhaps no where attains such perfection as 

 in the latter country ; particularly in those situations 

 in the Highlands where it is most exposed to a 

 northern aspect : for in proportion to the tardiness 

 of its vegetation, in consequence of the little influ- 

 ence of the sun upon it for months together, it 

 completes by slow and sure degrees the health and 

 strength of its timber far beyond that which is nur- 

 tured to prematurity of stature in richer soils and 

 warmer situations. 



This remark may be applied to all other timber 

 trees as well as to the Fir. Pliny observes, that 

 such as grow in moist and sheltered places are not 

 so close, compact, and durable, as those which are 

 more exposed. And Homer, who like Shakspeare 

 had read the book of nature as well as that of hu- 

 manity, judiciously assigns to Agamemnon a spear 

 formed of a tree which had braved the fury of the 

 tempest : he also puts into the mouth of Didymus 

 the express reason for this choice ; " because," says 

 he, " it becomes harder and tougher in proportion 

 as it is weather-beaten." 



