SOILS FOR 



THE SCOTS FIR. 



This tree is naturally the inhabitant of moun- 

 tainous diftri&s, and of rocky, gavelly, or poo* 

 fandy foils, where its timber becomes moft valua- 

 ble and durable. On the fides of mountains, in 

 dells and hollows, among ftones and rocks, be- 

 fide rapid rivulets or mountain torrents, it is 

 found in high perfection j and if it ftand fmgle, 

 it is of great beauty. In many parts of the Scots 

 Highlands, where the foils are extremely various, 

 and much mixed, the Scots Fir has arrived at a 

 good fize, and often attained remarkable dimen- 

 fions. In any kind of foil from a fand to a 

 clay, provided the fubflratum be rubble or rock* 

 it will grow and flourifh ; but in wet, tilly foils, 

 it ought never to be planted ; becaufe whenever 

 the roots have exhaufted the turf or upper foil, 

 and begin to perforate the fubfoil, the tree lan- 

 guifhes, and dies. * 



THE 



parting of the branches, 19 feet. The stem is 12 feet high. 

 The top divides into 10 large limbs ; but what renders this 

 tree very remarkable is, that it stands by itself in a cold, 

 flat, exposed country, at a considerable distance from any 

 other tree. There is another circumstance which, perhaps, 

 entitles it to notice ; namely, it was one of the two trees 

 discovered in Scotland by Dr Johnson on his memorable 

 Northern Tour ! 



* There has been several varieties of the Scots Fir, di- 

 stinguished 



