CULTIVATION. 



9 



subject; and, strictly speaking, the very beautiful, symmetrically 

 graceful, lovely green, variegated, glaucous, and fine-foliaged kinds, may 

 by being planted in the wrong instead of the right situation, lose half, 

 two-thirds, or perchance all their beauty ; unless, indeed, such are like 

 in their quality to that of a nameless canine species, whose native 

 habitat is north of the Tweed, and whose chief beauty, according to 

 the uninitiated, consists in its extreme ugliness. Aspect, again, must 

 not be lost sight of in this phase of the subject; for some of the Indian 

 South Californian, and South European species will, if sheltered, do 

 much better in a northern than any other aspect in this country ; 

 and this holds tl^ue of most of the firs and pines from sunny climes 

 and fertile soils, where they have contracted a predisposition to early 

 spring growth when first introduced into this climate ; and until Ave 

 get them thoroughly inured to our late springs and short summers, 

 we should give them a situation in a north aspect, so as not to induce 

 but to retard this natural tendency of their early starting their spring 

 growth. 



Altitude, in so far as the firs and pines are concerned in the British 

 Isles, is a phase of the subject which requires but a very brief notice ; 

 inasmuch as most of them that are sufficiently hardy for our climate 

 will, if in soils suitable for them, and upon substratas congenial to 

 their nature, do better on high than low altitudes ; and the higher the 

 elevation, if shelter be afforded them when young, the better they seem 

 to thrive. 



Climate, is indeed a familiar word, yet, a phenomenon, comprehending 

 or connected Avith all those elements and attributes of matter and 

 force : — animal and vegetable life ; air, earth, and water ;— when con- 

 sidered in connection with nature's active powers, and when acted upon 

 by those mighty forces which we term light, heat, electricity, gravi- 

 tation, and rotation ; and the chemical and cohesive agents furnish the 

 material of those specific, yet, compound and complex conditions of 

 our seasons, — land and ocean winds, thunder and storm, tides and 

 currents, hurricanes and calms, rains and dews, snow and ice, and 

 clouds and sunshine; and although climate, in its largest or most 

 comprehensive sense, might be thus enlarged and descanted upon, 

 yet, when considered in relation to our own country, and as pertaining 

 to our present subject, its vast and complex character is much circum- 

 scribed, and all philosophical speculation, and metaphysical uncertainties 

 can be dispensed with ; and by strict induction for truth in this phase 

 of aboriculture, we can from nature's founts of pure and simple truth. 



