2 PINACE^. 



cunning Fox shall have in their flight or chase an amhrosial shade 

 and chance retreat, (which methinks I hear them whisper, — are 

 essential in all true sport ;) in the scattered and unformal groups 

 of firs and pines^ or other proper arhoral gi'owths, which shall change 

 thy dreary plains and naked hiUs from barren wastes to picturesque 

 landscapes ; and when thy nohle and manly arts of hunting and shoot- 

 ing shall he practised more consonant to the instincts of a noble 

 people, as patrician games and exhilarating work ; not as now too 

 common — plebeian battuing; or, perchance, a more appropriate 

 phrase — a mercenary labour : and when not only the value, but like- 

 wise the pleasures derived from thy landed property, shall be greatly 

 increased by arboriculture being elevated to its true and legitimate 

 rank as an art ; when firs and pines, and all other arboral products 

 shah be planted in the proper place, and the right species in the right 

 spot, whether for utility or adornment, profit or pleasure ; or as 

 shelter or food for biped or quadruped, domesticated or wild. 



Durino- the J.ast half century no branch of arboriculture has received 

 so oreat a stimulus as, or has been more popular than, the introduction 

 and cultivation of Coniferce so-called : this patronage, however, is not 

 to be attributed to our appreciation of them as valuable timber trees ; 

 but to our admiration of them as ornamental trees. Excepting, how- 

 ever, the cereals, esculents, and fruits of agriculture and horticulture, 

 there is no family of plants of more intrinsic importance or economic 

 value to us as a nation in our present utilitarian, yet, highly refined 

 condition. 



For profitable planting in the climate, soils, and altitudes of Britain, 

 few if any, genera or species of trees are better adapted than some of 

 the species of this family ; inasmuch as we can here select trees which 

 are thoroughly hardy, good and sound constitutioned ; of large dimen- 

 sions and very rapid growth ; and not too discriminating in their 

 choice of soils or situations : some of which produce timber the most 

 durable, strong, elastic, close-grained, long-fibred, easily wrought and 

 capable of receiving the highest polish ; not subject to incipient 

 decay and free from the ravages of wood-vermin that are parasitical 

 to all known woods : for general utility the timber of some of them 

 is not surpassed by that of any other trees ; for I know of but few 

 architectural, arts — useful or mechanical, rural or domestic purposes 

 to which timber can be converted but the material for such conversion 

 can be selected from amongst the woods produced by the firs and 

 pines. 



