62 DISTRIBUTION OF 



often preferred. It is the tallest of all the Euro- 

 pean firs, and forms mdeed a majestic object when 

 grown detached. In the home woods upon the 

 estate of Arniston, many of the spruce firs rise to 

 the height of eighty and ninety feet, with a dia- 

 meter of two feet and a half. It is not so hardy as 

 the Scots fir, if planted upon a high situation ; in 

 fact, upon a dry soil and a high situation, it does 

 not attain to large size, and is soon aifected by 

 heart-rot. The circumstances which appear most 

 favourable to the healthy and full development of 

 the spruce fir are, a good strong loamy soil, and 

 rather a low-lying sheltered situation. The spruce 

 fir thrives in a soil rather inclined to damp than 

 otherwise. 



The Silver Fir (Picea pectinata) is another 

 excellent timber tree for the forest, and is not cul- 

 tivated to the extent in our plantations which its 

 value demands. In every respect, the observations 

 made relative to the spruce fir are applicable to the 

 silver fir, only, I may add, that the silver fir is even 

 a more hardy tree than the spruce. 



The Larch {Larix Europcea) is one of the 

 most valuable of the pine tribe. It is a native of 

 the mountainous districts of Germany, and is found 

 to endure the climate of Scotland equally as well as 

 the Scots fir, but is more particular with regard to 

 the circumstances which favour its healthy growth 

 than that tree. As an instance of the success of jthe 



