500 



ON USEFUL AND 



BOOK I. 



larly in Perthshire, Stirlingshire, and Argyleshire. There, 

 " they distinguish the wood cut in the native forests, from that 

 obtained in plantations, by calling the former highland fir, and 

 the latter park fir. The highland fir is most esteemed on account 

 of its greater durability, being frequently found undecayed in 

 ancient buildings when the other sort is entirely wasted*/' 

 This may be daily seen in Aberdeenshire, Bamfshire, &c. dur- 

 ing the removal of old farm-houses and cottages ; wherever a 

 piece of the highland fir appears, it is always of a much deeper 

 yellow than the park or low country fir. At Gogar some large 

 fir trees were taken down in 1795 : they grew upon a deep cold 

 loam ; the wood was sawn up, and was found of excellent qua- 

 lity. About a mile from this, at Lenny park, a dry bank is co- 

 vered with fir trees of greater age than those at Gogar, some of 

 them have been taken down at different periods before and 

 after that time, and have uniformly been found of inferior 

 quality. In 1804 a number of fir trees were taken down from 



* I am happy in being able here to quote my sentiments from the highest au- 

 thority, viz. " Lambert on the Genus Pinus? page 34. In the same page it is 

 said, that " this striking difference," between the highland and park fir, " is pro- 

 bably to be attributed to the mountainous and rocky situations in which the native 

 timber is found, and where, the trees being of slower growth, the wood is conse- 

 quently of a harder texture." Mr. Lambert is of opinion, that few species of pines 

 will endure more than forty years in the soils in which they are commonly planted 

 in England. Indeed, there are many proofs of this from Croome, Kew, and other 

 places; though there are some excellent fir trees at Langhangles, where the soil 

 is deep and cold, that are much older than that period. 



