iir, 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



existence of distinct species, or even varieties, and assert that 

 soil and situation arc all that are concerned in the matter. 

 Soil and situation liave certainly great influence on the quality 

 of timber, and probably, in no other case, so much as the one 

 in (piestion ; but that there exist numerous varieties, if not 

 distinct species of pines in our forests, we think few reason- 

 able men will deny. As a consequence, wliich must then 

 naturally follow, some of these varieties are better in the qua- 

 hty of their wood than others, and when such can be ascer- 

 tained, the jneference certainly should be given to them, and 

 we doubt not that, by these means, the quality of Scotch fir 

 timber might in future be much improved. The variety pre- 

 ferred by Mr. Don, in the above communication, " is distin- 

 guished by the disposition of its branches, which are remark- 

 able for their horizontal direction, and for a tendency to bend 

 downwards close to the trunk. The leaves are broader and 

 shorter than tiie common kind, and are distinf^uishable at a 

 distance by their much lii^hter and beautiful glaucous appear- 

 ance. The bark of the trunk is smoother than in the common 

 kind. 'Vhc cones are thicker, and not so much pointed." 

 That distinguished botanist considered this variety as much 

 more hardy, that it grows freely in almost all soils and situa- 

 tions, and that it arrives at a considerable size much sooner 

 than the common sort. 



SILVFR FIR, 



Is a native of the Al})s and Germany, and is ascertained to 

 have been cultivated in this country in 1603. It is of very 

 rapid growth while young, exceeding all the pine tribe in this 

 respect, excepting the larch ; it attains a very magnificent size, 

 and is peculiarly interesting in an ornamental point of view 

 Beautiful specimens are to be seen at Woburn Abbey, which 

 were planted by Miller, and at Cranberry-house, and othcT 

 places. It attains the height of upwards of one hundred feet; 

 and one of the trees at Woburn exceeds nine feet in circum- 

 ference, four feet from the ground, and has a clean pruned 

 trunk of seventy-five feet. The timber of this tree is in i)er- 

 fection when about forty or fifty years old, and is equally 



