159 



NOTICES OF AUTHORS. 



market, or caiTy them forward to great timber. 

 When fir trees are intended to be early cut down, 

 or when disease in larch from unfitness of soil may 

 be apprehended, as it is thence of small consequence 

 though their future ability to become great timber be 

 destroyed by closeness, the plants should be re- 

 tained pretty near each other from the fii*st, that 

 the timber may be tall, straight, and clean. On the 

 other hand, when the soil is suitable and great tim- 

 ber intended, early attention to thinning and great 

 openness from the first is absolutely necessary, as 

 they (the firs), different from other trees, can never 

 repair the loss of then- lower branches by throwing 

 out new ones from the naked stem ; and double the 

 distance stated by Mr Monteath at least for larch, 

 which, instead of less, needs more space than Scots 

 fir, will be required. We beheve the decay of Scots 

 fir, occurring so generally at about 40 years of age, 

 although also dependent on inferior variety and 

 kiln-drying of cones, arises principally from want 

 of timely thinning ; that is, that the infirm variety 

 of Scots fir in common use, when supported by nu- 

 merous feeders, and not weakened by being drawn 

 up into a tall slender stem, will often have hardihood 

 to continue growing, and acquire considerable size in 

 om' cold, wet, moorish tills, or even in om' moorish 



