143 TREATISE on 



laftly, tills is, properly fpeaking, faving time, being a much 

 more convenient feafon of the year than the fpring for an exten- 

 five plantation, as then, from the great variety of operations to 

 be done both in the gardens and fields, it is with difficulty they 

 can all be duly attended to, and properly executed. 



I NOW conclude this (I am afraid too tedious) difcourfe on 

 Firs, with obferving, that I have often been farprifed ths cic^ts 

 Pine or Fir fhould be the only Evergreen indifcriminately aied to 

 any great extent in every foil and lituation, thought incapable 

 of producing the better kinds of Foreft-trees. I acknowledge 

 they are applied with great propriety in mountainous, rocky, 

 chalky, fandy and gravelly places but in hungry deep till, and 

 clay, the Spruce Fir will much farpafs them in growth. And 

 this being a tree of much greater beauty, more valuable timber, 

 and propagated with the fame facility, Why do we not encou- 

 rage it in ample plantations where the foil invites ? as few plants 

 would contribute more to our pleafure and profit, in many ex- 

 tenfive, though now cold and gloomy, tra6ls of land. For Ever- 

 green hedges in cold fituations, to flicker gardens or other 

 plantations, I know no plant on earth fo proper as the Norway 

 Spruce Fir : They are ftrong fences, grow amazingly faft, fheep 

 or cattle do not annoy them, and, by clipping them in moift 

 weather, when they begin to flioot in the fpring, thin at top, 

 and gradually thicker to the bottom, they will continue many 

 years beautiful and verdant. 



All the kinds of Firs are injured by lopping the old wood, 

 and therefore ought to be pruned when the branches are young 

 and tender. The beft feafon for pruning them, is as early in 

 autumn as the fap is at reft. 



