cruickshank's practical planter. 337 



however, a very hardy plant, and not very nice in its 

 choice of soil, pro^sdded it have enough of sap." — " I 

 do not mean such as is deluged in winter with stag- 

 nant water. This is incompatible with the growth 

 of wood of every kind." — " The silver fir and balm 

 of Gilead will answer in the same kinds of land as 

 the spruce."—" They, together with the spruce, are 

 invaluable for where the soil is deep peat-moss, as 

 neither the Scots fir nor the larch will thrive in it." 



There is in the above quotations, in common with 

 many of our opinions (formed hastily upon a too 

 partial acquaintance with facts), a considerable pro- 

 portion both of truth and error. Such sweeping asser- 

 tions will, however, generally command the assent 

 and admiration of the reader. From the enjoyment 

 the mind has in forming clear conceptions and reach- 

 ing conclusions, from its love of order, and from 

 its disposition to cling to every thing like definite, 

 unfluctuating arrangement, to assist its limited powers 

 of comprehension, we are led away by the author, who 

 reduces the character of natural phenomena to great 

 simplicity, although in reality exceedingly compli- 

 cated. 



Scots fir, it is true, has rather a superior adaptation 

 to dry, sharp, and rocky soils ; yet there are many 



Y 



