THEIR PROPERTIES, &C. 109 



determine. But the method which fome follow 

 in raifing the black and red kinds by layers, cer- 

 tainly is the molt effectual means which can be 

 purfued to bring them into contempt as trees. 

 This method of raifing plants may anfwer where 

 they are wifhed only to form low-growing fhrubs, 

 but never for making trees. Thofe which are in- 

 tended for growing to trees mould be raifed only 

 from feeds. 



THE COMMON, OR NORWAY SPRUCE FIR. 

 (Pinus ablest) 



This is a very hardy foreft tree of considerable 

 value. It is the loftiefl of European trees. It 

 has certainly, however, but few pretenfions to the' 

 title ornamental. Next to the Lombardy poplar 

 and the Scots fir, we think it the leaft fo. 



This tree mould never be planted, excepting 

 in mafles or groves by itfelf ; otherwife its tim- 

 ber is fo coarfe and knotty, that it is hardly worth 

 working : But in the mafs way, if planted thick, 

 and properly pruned and thinned afterwards, it 

 may be trained to tall clean timber. 



The white deal, or Memel fir, fo long, and 

 hitherto fo plentifully, imported from the Baltic, 

 is the produce of this tree ; and therefore the va- 

 lue of its timber cannot be queftioned. In Den- 

 mark, Sweden and Norway, it is grown thick in 



natural 



