TREATISE ON 



cc'ivinr ;i lu<>h regard for this plant ; and from the favourable 

 opportunity I had of procuring its cones, (then not fo plenty as 

 now), T have raifed many more of them than any man ever did 

 in Scotland, and was the firfl who made them frequent in this 

 part of the kingdom ; from which circumflances, and making 

 different experiments on their culture, I imagine I am able to 

 direcfl it properly ; nor indeed does that require any great pene- 

 tration, as, after three or four years growth, they are very hardy. 



The way to get out the feeds, is by fplitting the cones thro' 

 the centre with a fliarp piece of iron length-ways, and picking 

 them out with your fingers, which may eafily be done, after ex- 

 poling them for fome hours on the hearth before a warm fire. 

 If the cones are two years old, they will emit their feeds more 

 readily than thofe lately gathered, and the feeds be equally good, 



Th e beft foil to raife thefe plants on, is rich old cow-pafhure 

 earth, which, if not naturally of a light quality, mix with a 

 fourth or fifth part of fea-fand, 'or that taken from the fides of 

 rivulets, well blended together for fome months before it is ufed. 

 I have mentioned this tree as very hardy at three or four years 

 old, neither is it delicate from the beginning ; but at the fame 

 time, it is abfolutely neceffary to give them abundant nourifh- 

 ment at firft, in order to make fair and vigorous plants ; for if 

 they once become dwarfifh, ftunted, or lofe their leading flioot, 

 no art will afterwards reftore them to a good figure : Therefore, 

 the raifing a number of plants, which any tolerable gardener 

 may eafily do, is not the only thing required ; it is raifing them 

 of a healthful comely figure, and this cannot be done without 

 fome fkill and attention. In order to effedl it, obferve the fol- 

 lowing rules ; 



