THE FIR TRIBE. 



323 



tice. The perfection of the Fir, as has been 

 already noticed, consists in height rather than 

 lateral expansion. In all other trees (except 

 the Palms) a bud is produced in the axil of 

 every leaf. This is not the case in the Firs, 

 but buds are produced very sparingly, and 

 nearly always at the extremities of the shoots. 

 Provision is thus made for the upward growth 

 of the tree, but not for its lateral expansion. In 

 other trees, again, the unfolding of all the buds 

 on an individual is simultaneous, or nearly so ; 

 but in the case of the Fir-tribe, the bud which 

 terminates the summit of the tree, and is destined 

 to form its leading shoot, and increase its height, 

 is developed the last ; and this delay seems a 

 provision of nature for the safety of the most 

 important shoot which the tree can produce ; thus 

 insuring its height rather than its breadth, and 

 the production of timber by the preservation of 

 its permanent trunk, rather than of its tem- 

 porary and comparatively useless branches."^ 



It might be supposed that the Firs, exposed as 

 they are to the action of the most violent thun- 

 derstorms, would be liable to be shattered by 

 discharges of the electric fluid to an extent not 

 known in the case of any other trees. The reverse 

 of this is the case ; for they are furnished with 

 a natural apparatus, which not only in most cases 

 protects themselves from the effects of lightning, 

 but tends to equalize the electric condition of the 

 atmosphere, and so to extend their influence to 

 districts indefinitely remote. Fresh vegetables in 

 general conduct the electric fluid with facility, 

 owing to the good conducting properties of the 



* Loudon. 



