ON QUALITY OF SOIL. 



99 



there were standing, a few years ago, and probably 

 still remain, some spruce trees upwards of fifty feet 

 high, and without a single withered branch from 

 top to bottom. In shape they presented an exact 

 copy of the cones that grew on them ; the branches 

 close at the ground, spreading out to a great cir- 

 cumference, and every succeeding row diminishing 

 somewhat in length till the conical shape was com- 

 plete. So thick and close were the boughs, that it 

 was impossible to catch a single glimpse of the 

 trunks. These beautiful trees grew on what had 

 formerly been a perfect morass, the surface water of 

 which had been drawn off by opening large ditches. 

 The soil was peat moss on a bed of poor clay. I 

 may state, in the way of contrast, that I have seen, 

 on dry land, where the larch had grown to a ma- 

 jestic height, spruce, of the same age, not exceed- 

 ing fifteen feet from the point of the leader to the 

 ground, every branch, with the exception of two or 

 three near the top, being as effectually withered as 

 if scorched by fire. Spruce seems to be most par- 

 tial to a cold stiff clay ; it is, however, a very hardy 

 plant, and not very nice in its choice of soil, provid- 

 ed it have enough of sap. It is to be observed, in 

 recommending moist land for this tree, that I do 

 not mean such as is deluged in winter with stagnant 



