380 



THE SPRIjCE FIR. 



still more formal. It is not always, however, that 

 the Spruce Fir grows with so much regularity. 

 Sometimes a lateral branch, here and there, tak- 

 ing the lead beyond the rest, breaks somewhat 

 through the order commonly observed, and forms 

 a few chasms, which have a good effect. When 

 this is the case, the Spruce Fir ranks among pic- 

 turesque trees. Sometimes it has as good an 

 effect, and in many circumstances a better, when 

 the contrast appears still stronger — when the tree 

 is shattered by some accident, has lost many of its 

 branches, and is scathed and ragged. A feathery 

 branch here and there, among broken stumps, 

 has often an admirable effect, but it must arise 

 from some particular situation. In all circum- 

 stances, however, the Spruce Fir appears best 

 either as a single tree, or unmixed with any of its 

 fellows ; for neither it nor any of the spear- 

 headed race will ever form a beautiful clump 

 without the assistance of other trees.* 



It is, however, only in its native haunts, the 

 sides of mountain ravines, that the real pictu- 

 resque beauty of the Spruce Fir can be appre- 

 ciated ; and it is not altogether just of the author 

 just quoted to measure the excellences of a tree 

 essentially mountainous by the same rules which 

 he applies to the humbler inhabitants of the low- 

 lands. It is," says Sir T. D. Lauder, the 

 great tree of the Alps, and is so mentally asso- 

 ciated with the grandeur of Swiss scenery, that 

 the sight of it never fails to touch chords in our 

 bosom which awaken the most pleasing recollec- 

 tions. What can be more truly sublime than to 

 behold, opposed to the intensely blue ether, the 



* Gilpin. 



