r O R E S T - T R E E S. 141 



Chapter XXVI. 

 The fi r tree. 



The Species are : 



1. The Norway, or Spruce Fir Tree. 



2. The black American Spruce Fir Tree. 



3. The white American Spruce Fir Tree, 



4. The Silver Fir Tree. ^ 



5. The Balmof Gilead Fir Tree, 



6. The Hemlock Spruce Fir Tree. 



^"I^HOUGH all the writers on gardening I have read make 

 no material diftindlion in the fowing and future culture 

 of the Fir from the Pine tree, yet, to my certain experience, a- 

 very different practice ought to be obferved, particularly in fome 

 of the forts, and that for the moft obvious reafons. The Pine 

 trees, the New-England only excepted, have downright roots 

 with few fibres. Thefe roots, at tranfplanting, mufl necelTarily be. 

 reduced, which, if done after they become hard and woody, will 

 deftroy the greateft part of them. The roots of the Fir tree, on 

 the contrary, fpread near the furface, produce plenty of fibres, 

 and do not grow near the fize of the Pines in general the firft year ; 

 from whence, I think, nature plainly points out to us the propriety 

 of their remaining two years in the feminary with fafety, and 

 eyen advantage, wliich, to the Pines, from the circumflances men- 

 tioned, mufl prove deftru6live : I iliall therefore defcribe the 

 practice I have found moft fuccefsful. 



