10 



and this settles the matter. If I still seem to be making a mistake 

 in calling the plant by its right name, I am content to err in such 

 good company as that of Charles Darwin and Sir Joseph Hooker. 



" Fir " is connected with " fire," and the " fir-tree " really means 

 the " fire-tree," quite an appropriate name considering the in- 

 flammable nature of the wood. Right across the northern parts of 

 Asia and Europe forests of Scotch fir are to be found, while in 

 Southern Europe it occurs on the mountains, for it prefers a cool 

 situation. At the present day we can scarcely consider that it is truly 

 wild in many parts of Britain, if any, other than Scotland, though it 

 used to be so in England and Ireland. The numerous specimens in 

 Surrey, in the New Forest, and elsewhere are the results of planting ; 

 yet in the less rigorous conditions of our southern climate they seem 

 to come to greater perfection than they do in their native home on 

 the Scotch mountains. I was on one occasion by the side of the 

 Black Pond on Esher Common with a Scotchman, whose home was 

 in the Grampian district. Looking at the fine trees, which, I suppose, 

 provide the name of the pond, he said they were not Scotch firs : 

 they ought to be gnarled and twisted and broken, not tall, upright, 

 and well grown like those he saw around him. 



For taking a walk through a fir-clad country the time of year 

 scarcely matters, as even in winter many a pleasant hour may be 

 spent walking over the dry springy beds of fir-needles, and watching 

 perchance the red wintry sun setting behind the fir-trunks, when it 

 " resembles most some city in a blaze seen through the leafless 

 woods." Indeed, winter sometimes provides a picture of even 

 greater splendour, for perhaps the woods never look better than on 

 a bright cold morning, when hoar-frost decks the scene, and the 

 trees— 



" Fledged with icy feathers 

 Nod superb." 



With such a district within easy reach a photographer need never 

 be at a loss for subjects on which to display his skill during the 

 winter months. A fir wood with its evergreen trees, and the dry 

 needles on the ground, never seems so thoroughly sunk in winter 

 sleep as do so many country scenes. As we pass a spot where the 

 trees grow thick, we note the " dim religious light," the dearth of 

 vegetation under the shade of the trees, and the absence of lower 

 branches, not sufficient light penetrating from above to keep them 

 alive. A picture made up chiefly of straight lines is not usually very 

 pleasant to look upon ; but this does not seem to apply to one 

 portraying a mass of Scotch firs. 



Most of the individuals will be seen to possess a single straight 

 trunk. This is not, however, always the case. Not seldom may be 

 seen trees springing from the ground in two main trunks, while it is 

 not a difficult matter to find cases of three. There is one tree near 

 the Black Pond on Esher Common with four distinct trunks, but I 

 think it is the only one in the locality. Whether this means that 



