THE SCOTCH FIR. 



161 



it is impossible for them to thrive to any I of professional planters, so unmeaning 



good effect ; and when we consider the 

 many beautiful hardy trees and shrubs 

 in our islands it is no wonder that men, 

 busy in other ways, should make many 

 mistakes in planting. But on the part 



a way should not be accepted ; and 

 the true one is unattainable without a 

 knowledge of the loveliest gift of Na- 

 ture to the earth — its trees. 



Planter. 



THE GREATER TREES OF THE NORTHERN FOREST.— No. 5. 



THE SCOTCH FIR {Pinus sylvestris). 



This is our native Fir, and the best we 

 shall ever see in our land, taking its 

 beauty as well as its use into account. 



Scotch Fir, and many vain attempts 

 have been made to define them; but, in 

 the opinion of experienced planters, 



As we usually grow it soft and sappy in these are more the effects of climate and 

 our rich soils and very often too openly, varied conditions than any real distinc- 

 we find that the wood is of little value ; tions of kind. The area inhabited by 

 yet grown in the plains and mountains the tree is so vast, that it embraces cli- 

 of the north in the natural way, or in 1 mates of the utmost diversity . The best 

 managed forests, it is a wood of the wood and the finest grain of the tree is 

 highest value. As to beauty, there is met with in northern Europe and Asia, 

 nothing to come near that of old trees, i where time does not count, the growth 

 if grouped or massed as they should be. j is slow and excellent, insects are absent, 

 My first idea was to give a complete ac- owing to the severity of the climate 

 count of the Scotch Fir,but its literature, I (except for a short season), and a long 

 I found, would take more than a whole winter rest is followed by a regular sum- 



number of Flora to do it justice, and it 

 is so well known that there is less need 

 of detailed description than in the case 



mer growth. When raising young plants, 

 therefore, it would be a mistake not to 

 go to the best sources for seed ; that is 



of rarer trees. I have been for years to say, countries where these Pines are 

 looking for a good drawing of the most famous for their size and quality. 



Scotch Fir — not difficult to find, one 

 would think; but I had to wait long for 

 one worthy of the tree, and at last found 

 it at Christie's in a drawing of William 

 Miiller's ; an astonishingly strong and 



The trees from central Europe are, 

 there is reason to think, less valuable 

 than those of Scandinavia and northern 

 countries, Russia, Finland, and Scot- 

 land included, where the trees are taller 



clear study, both in drawing and group- and better ; whether or not owing to 



ing, as may be seen in the engraving, climate does not matter. Enormous 



It will perhaps suggest, among other quantities of this wood are sent from 



things, how much has been lost to Eng- the northern ports of Europe to other 

 lish art by the early death of this land- ! countries, the best coming from Dant- 



scape painter. There has been much zic and other ports in the North. The 



talk in the past of the varieties of the range of this Pine over Europe and Asia 



N 2 



