146 TREATISE ON 



fituations, where they commonly not only lofe their top-fhoots, 

 but their under-branches foon become ragged, and, in place of 

 that lively fhining verdure peculiar to them in a foil they affecfl, 

 they become of a pale languid hue ; nay I have known trees of 

 them above twenty years planted out in fuch foils, entirely de- 

 ftroyed by a hot dry fummer. At the fame time they are in other 

 refpedls amongfb the leaft delicate of any plants in the choice of 

 their food, as the largeft and mod flourifliing trees of them I 

 have ever feen over this ifland, in general grow on four, heavy, 

 obftinate clay, of all different qualities and colours ; and though 

 for ten or twelve years they do not advance fo faft as feveral of 

 the other Firs and Pines, yet in twenty they will outgrow them, 

 all, and continue that advantage till they arrive to their greateft . 

 magnitude. 



These trees, like the other more common forts intended for 

 timber only, Ihould not, as they commonly are, be planted clofe 

 together in thickets, but require a free circulation of air, other* 

 ways their intermingled branches will deftroy one another. 



The Balm of Gilead Fir, though it is defcribed as growing 

 to a large fize in America, and is ranked in our catalogues with 

 the talleft trees, yet I never faw them in this country of any 

 great magnitude. It requires a generous deep-feeding foil, and 

 fheltered fituation, to which, from its lingular beauty and ele* 

 gance, it is juftly intitled, and it claims our culture and care. 



The Hemlock Spruce Fir is a pretty plant, but delicate, and,, 

 to fucceed well with us, muft have a good foil, and warm fitua- 

 tion : It will likeways be improved by tying its leading flioot, t3 > 

 a flake annually as it advances. 



