84 



_ It IS a mistake to suppose that fir trees should be cut in summer, because, (as they say) the sap which 

 IS the turpentine, is afloat; they should always be cut when the sap is stagnant, viz. in winter Fir cut in 

 the summer will become full of mushrooms in a twelvemonth afterwards. I have tried this frecruentlv and 

 paid dearly for my experience. ^ 



PLACES OF GHOWTIL 



1. Scotch Fir. Mountaiuous rocky situations, shelter not necessary. 



2. Spruce. Gardens and laAyns, where it can have room to spread its lower brandies horizontally, and 



is not wanted to stand above forty years. 



3. Silver Fir. Strong lauds, fit for oak; rather sheiteredj but shelter not indispensable - 



4. Larch. Sheltered situations on the sides of hills; sandy, if possible, though poor. It does not like 



- cold wet land. 



I omit the Balm of Gilead Fir, as we have had none grown to an age sufficient for determining its rise as 

 tnnber. It seems to be very like the Silver Fir in quality. 



I hope. Sir, you will liud something in these remarks wortliy your notice, as they are the result of the 

 experience of above thirty years, fro)n l/w seed to tlw great tree. 



I am. Sir, your very humble servant, 



THOMAS DAVIS. 



EXTRACT 



PllOM 



r 



THE REV. WILLIAM COXE'S TRAVELS IN POLAND, RUSSIA, SWEDEN, AND DENMARK, 



ON 



THE SUBJECT OF CHRISTIANA DEAL, 



(Vol. V. p. 28, 5tIiEdil.) 



. "T- pl-k^ -d deals are of superior estimation to those sent from America, Russia, and from the different 

 par s of the Baltic, because the trees grow on the rocks, and are therefore firmer, more compact , 



hab e t. rot than the others which chiefly shoot from a sandy or loamy soil. The ^J:^2rJ^Z 

 white fir, or pine. The red wood is produced from the Scotch Fir, and the white wood, which i7i sud 

 high estimation, from the Spruce Fir. This wood is the most demanded, because no country ;rod c 

 in such quantities as this part of Norway. Each tree yields three pieces of timber, eleven or [welve feet i 

 length, and is.usually sawed into three planks; a tree generally requires seventy or eighty years growth befo e 

 It arrives at the greatest perfection. ^ jj h "^uj^cioie 



The environs of Christiana not yielding suflicieut planks for exportation, fhe greater pari of die timber is 

 hewn in the inland country, and floated down the rivers and cataracts. Saw-mills are ,!sed for the p u " 

 of cut ing the planks, but must be privileged, and can only cut a certain quantity. The proprietors J o 

 to declare on oath, that they have not exceeded that quantity; and if they do the prn W t I 

 and the saw^miU destroyed. There are one huudrcd aud thir^six privilegL saw Jl£ ^^.^^^IZZi. 

 one un red belong to tie family of Anker. The quantity of planks permitted to be cut amounts to 00 ^ 

 standard deals, twelve feet long, and one inch and a quarter thick " 



In Scotland, th^. distinguish the wood cut in the native fores'ts from that obtained in plantations by 

 calling the former H>gMand Er, and the latter Park Br. The HIgldand Fir is most esteemed, on account 

 of.ts greater durability, being frequently found undecayed in ancient buildings, when the other sort is 

 entirely wasted. This striking difference in the same species is probably to be attributed to the mountalnou 

 and rocky situations in which the native timber is found, and where the trees being of slower growth the 

 wood is consequently of a haixler texture; the latter may be readily distinguished from that of the Park Fir 

 by its much deeper yellow colour. 



