THE FIR. 143 



on timber in general being valuable in proportion to 

 the length of time it has taken to acquire its perfec- 

 tion, it must be acknowledged that the readiness 

 with which the Fir may be forced to speedy growth 

 is an advantage in many respects. Evelyn men- 

 tions one which " did shoot no less than sixty feet 

 in height, in little more than twenty years :" he, 

 therefore, who may be waiting impatiently to see 

 his newly-erected mansion enveloped in the graceful 

 shade and salutary shelter which only stately trees 

 can give, will do well to cultivate 



" Cedar, and Pine, and Fir, and branching Palm :" 



though even then he must not expect that his ave- 

 nues will display the dignity of ages afforded by the 

 Oak, that truly patrician tree, emphatically termed 

 by the Chinese " the tree of inheritance," which 

 testifies so independently to the antiquity of the 

 property which it may adorn. Nobility has been 

 defined " ancient riches ;" and assuredly one of the 

 most convincing outward signs of " ancient riches" 

 is ancient timber ; as proud a badge of distinction 

 to its proprietors as any that can be afforded by 

 blazoned shields or storied urns, and a more de- 

 sirable one, as allowing others to participate in the 

 enjoyment of it, and inspiring only ideas of tran- 

 quillity and usefulness. 



