MISCELLANEOUS. 201 



" grain, and hard solid wood ; the other, a 

 " white-wooded fir, with a much smaller pro- 

 " portion of resin in it, of a coarser grain, and 

 " of a soft spongy nature ; it never comes to 

 66 such a size, and is more liable to decay. At 

 " first appearance this would readily denote 

 " two distinct species ; but I am convinced 

 " that all the trees in Scotland, under the 

 " denomination of Scotch fir, are the same; 

 <c and that the difference of the quality of the 

 " wood, and size of the trees, are entirely 

 " owing to circumstances, such as climate, 

 " situation, and the soil they grow in. The 

 " finest fir trees appear in the most mountain- 

 " ous parts of the Highlands of Scotland, in 

 " glens, or on sides of hills generally lying to 

 " a northerly aspect, and the soil of a hard 

 " gravelly consistence, being the natural pro- 

 " duce of these places. 



" Upon cutting a tree over close at the 

 " root, I can venture to point out the exact 

 " age, which, in these old firs, comes to an 

 " amazing number of years. I lately pitched 

 " upon a tree of two feet and a half diameter, 

 " which is near the size of a planted fir of 

 " fifty years of age, and I counted exactly two 

 " hundred and fourteen circles or coats, which 



