82 TREATISE on 



proper culture of it claims our particular attention, for many 

 reafons. It is a native of the Alpine and Pyrenean mountains', 

 and loves an elevated fituation : It will become a ftately tree in 

 the pooreft hungry fand and gravel, and on the higheft and 

 bleakefl hills, where there is but a few inches of foil ; in fhort, it 

 rejeds no quality of earth that is dry, but in wet lands it will 

 not fucceed. 



The many encomiums beftowed both by antient and modem 

 authors on the virtues of this tree, and the great value of its 

 timber, would take up many pages, and exceed the bounds al- 

 lotted for this work : I fhall therefore only enumerate a few of 

 the beft attefted circumftances, but which may be fufficient to 

 recommend it to all judicious planters and others, lovers of their 

 country. 



From the wounded bark of this tree, exudes the pureft Venice 

 turpentine ; and on the body and branches, grows the Agaric, a 

 drug ufed in medicine. The famous architedl, Scamozie, built 

 m.any of the moft faperb palaces in Venice of it, and highly 

 commends it ; and Vitruvius laments that they had not enough 

 of it in Rome for joifls, and other parts that require both 

 ftrength and beauty in houfes, as well as from its property of 

 long renfting fire. The Forum of Auguftus v/as built of this 

 material, as were fundry magnificent bridges by Tiberius. Pofcs 

 of it driven into the ground become almoft as hard as iron, and 

 will bear an incredible weight. It bears the fmootheft polifli- 

 ing, and is fo exceedingly tranfparent, l^hat rooms wainfcotted 

 ■with it, will make people at a diftance, when candles are light- 

 ed, imagine the whole room on fire. Nor was it ufed for thefe 



