NURSERY AND PLANTING. 



113 



the timber, in sucli, be alike valuable. How it attained the 

 name of Scotch fir, is difticult to say ; for we do not find it to 

 be a native particularly of that country, but also of most parts 

 of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and is found in perfect- 

 ion in the torrid, temperate, and frigid zones. 



" It may, indeed," as Ponty observes, " be called the Plant- 

 ers' Forlorn Hope, as, where it fails, the case is truly despe- 

 rate. For instance, it is planted with success on the most 

 barren commons, where no other tree nor plant (the heath ex- 

 cepted) will grow. On sites, which are elevated and ex- 

 posed to particular currents of wind, it often })rovcs the only 

 tree that can be got up, except so far as others may rise under 

 its shelter. In the sea-breezes, too, it is frequently observed, 

 that while every plant around it bends to the blast, as if seek- 

 ing protection, this holds its head erect, and bids defiance to 

 the noxious gale." 



As a nurse, no other tree equals the Scotch fir, and, like the 

 larch, it will become a large and valuable timber-tree, in soils 

 and situations where no other tree would at all succeed. 

 The disrepute into which this tree has fallen, of late years, is 

 probably more to be attributed to the planter than to the tree. 

 In soils, capable of bringing the oak, ash, chestnut, and 

 similar trees, to perfection, it would be wrong to plant this fir, 

 unless, as a nurse-tree, to be cut out while young, while it 

 may, with every propriety, be planted with a view to produce 

 timber-trees, in soils and situations decidedly unfit for cither 

 of these to prosper in. Choosing fit soils and situations for 

 different trees to be planted in has been too iittle attended 

 to, and the erroneous practice of planting trees promiscuously 

 in the same plantation, whatever the soil may have been, has, 

 we think, been attended with sufficient disappointments to 

 convince the observing planter of the truth of this assertion. 

 The most successful result will always be from such })lant- 

 ations where the kinds of trees have been suited to the soil 

 and situation. 



The Scotch fir is increased most readily by seeds, which 

 ripen in cones, annually, in December and January, and should 

 then be gathered and laid in a dry loft or barn till the seeds 

 are to be extrnctod from them, as has been rlirocffd for l.irch. 



