THE PLANTEe's GUIDE. 



357 



tlieir harmonising or contrasting with other colours in 

 their neighbourhood. Therefore, as this tree is stationed, 

 supported, or contrasted, it forms a pleasing tint, or a murk j 

 spot in composition.'"" The truth is, that both the fohage 

 and the colour of the Scotch Fir, especially of the spread- 

 ing kind, are beautiful. The disposition of its branches is, 

 moreover, strikingly irregular and picturesque, not unlike 

 that of the stone Pine, or the Pinaster. It also resem- 

 bles the former of these fine trees in its bark, which, at a 

 proper age, is of a rich reddish brown colour. 



If these remarks be just, which I conceive them to be, 

 no man has a right to depreciate the Scotch Fir who 

 has seen it only as a nurse to other trees, and not expand- 

 ing in the careless forms of nature, and likewise at a 

 mature age. At Inverary, at Taymouth, at Dunkeld, it 

 may be so seen ; also, conspicuously, in the upper park 

 at Hamilton : and Gilpin mentions some noble specimens 

 of the tree at Thirkleby in Yorkshire, and Basilsleigh in 

 Berkshire. The ramification of the fine Fir trees at 

 Hamilton clearly shows that they are of the horizontal 

 species. It closely resembles that of the Oak, particularly 

 as their great arms are thrown out nearly at right angles 

 to the trunk. And the whole style of their tops is so 

 spreading and majestic, that, at a distance, they are not 

 unfrequently taken for Oaks. 



The Scotch Fir lives on dry and sandy soil ; and, 

 where that is deep, it will grow to a great size. On 

 rich loams, drained peat moss, and the like, the progress 

 of the tree is far more rapid, but the wood is also much 

 inferior in point of quality. It is, however, won- 

 derful how it accommodates itself to every sort of soil, 

 whether clay, loam, gravel, or chalk. As a nurse for 

 other trees, it is altogether unequalled ; and in that 



* Forest Scenery, vol. i. pp. 89, 90. 



