354 



THE FIR TRIBE. 



the summit of the tree, and is destined to form its leading 

 shoot and increase its height, is developed the last ; and 

 this delay seems a provision of nature for the safety of 

 the most important shoot which the tree can produce ; 

 thus insuring its height rather than its breadth, and the 

 production of timber by the preservation of its permanent 

 trunk rather than of its temporary and comparatively 

 useless branches."^ 



HDDS OF STONE-PINE. 



It might be supposed that the Firs, exposed as they are 

 to the action of the most violent thunderstorms, would 

 be liable to be shattered by discharges of the electric fluid 

 to an extent not known in the case of any other trees. 

 The reverse of this is the case ; for they are furnished 

 with a natural apparatus, which not only in most cases 

 protects themselves from the effects of lightning, but 

 tends to equalize the electric condition of the atmosphere, 

 and so to extend their influence to districts indefinitely 

 remote. Fresh vegetables in general conduct the electric 

 1 Loudon. 



