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PLATE VI.—THE SILVER FIR AT ROSENEATH. 
Tue Silver or Female Fir is the most beauteous and graceful of all its numerous tribe. It is common in the 
mountainous parts of Scotland, where, as Evelyn justly observes, “are trees of wonderful altitude, which grow 
upon places so inaccessible and far from the sea, that, as one says, they seem to be planted by God on purpose 
for nurseries of seed, and monitors to our industry ; reserved, with other blessings, to be discovered in our days, 
amongst the new-invented improvements of husbandry, not known to our southern people of this nation. Did 
we consider the pains they take to bring them out of the Alps, we should less stick at the difficulty of transport- 
ing them from the utmost parts of Scotland.” 
The Silver Fir represented in the plate is the property of his Grace the Duke of Argyll. It is about ninety 
feet in height. In girth it is twenty-two feet four inches at one foot from the ground, and seventeen feet five 
inches at five feet from the ground. Its solid contents are estimated at six hundred and nineteen cubic feet ten. 
inches ; but this calculation is probably only an approximation to the truth. The age of the tree is unknown: 
the introduction of the Silver Fir into Scotland is however commonly understood to have taken place two hun- 
dred and twenty years since, which period corresponds very well with the size of this tree, when compared with 
others of the same species, the ages of which are known. Evelyn mentions two Silver Firs in Harefield Park, 
Middlesex, “ that being planted there anno 1603, at two years’ growth from the seed, are now (1679) become 
goodly masts. The biggest of them from the ground to the upper bough is eighty-one feet, though forked on the 
top, which has not a little impeded its growth. The girth or circumference below is thirteen feet, and the 
length, so far as is timber, that is, to six inches square, seventy-three feet. In the middle seventeen inches 
square, amounting by calculation to one hundred and forty-six feet of good timber.” —Silva, p. 204. edit. 1776. 
This quickness of growth is only one of many recommendations in this beautiful species of Fir: but it is one 
of great importance in regard to planting it in avenues, and near houses ; for which it is equally calculated by 
the graceful stateliness of its form, and the beauty of its foliage, presenting on one side the bright green of the 
emerald, and on the other a delicate relief of silvery stripes, which, when agitated by the wind, gives it an agree- 
able variety of appearance, 
PLATE VII._THE SCOTCH FIR AT DUNMORE. 
Tuoven the Fir will grow in all parts of the kingdom, and is as useful in clothing the barren wolds of 
Yorkshire as the rugged mountains of Scotland, it perhaps nowhere attains such perfection as in the latter 
country ; particularly in those situations in the Highlands where it is most exposed to a northern aspect; for in 
proportion to the tardiness of its vegetation, in consequence of the little influence of the sun upon it for months 
together, it completes by slow and sure degrees the health and strength of its timber far beyond that which is 
nurtured to prematurity of stature in richer soils and warmer situations. 
This remark may be applied to all other timber trees as well as to the Fir. Pliny observes, that such as 
grow in moist and sheltered places are not so close, compact, and durable, as those which are more exposed. 
And Homer, who like Shakespeare had read the book of nature as well as that of humanity, judiciously assigns 
to Agamemnon a spear formed of a tree which had braved the fury of the tempest: he also puts into the mouth 
of Didymus the express reason for this choice ; “because,” says he, “it becomes harder and tougher in pro- 
portion as it is weather-beaten.” The wise Chiron shows the same prudence in choosing a spear for Achilles 
from a mountain tree : 
“ Alone, untouch’d, Pelides’ jav’lin stands, Whose son’s great arm alone the weapon wields, 
Not to be poised but by Pelides’ hands: The death of heroes, and the dread of fields.” 
From Pelion’s shady brow the plant entire Turan, b. xvi. 
Old Chiron rent, and shaped it for his sire ; 
Nevertheless that the Fir can so readily be forced to speedy growth is an advantage in many respects. Evelyn 
mentions one which “did shoot no less than sixty feet in height, in little more than twenty years :” he, therefore, 
who may be waiting impatiently to see his newly-erected mansion enveloped in the graceful shade and salutary 
shelter which only stately trees can give, will do well to cultivate 
“Cedar, and Pine, and Fir, and branching Palm ;” 
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