Gilpin, William S.: Practical hints upon landscape gardening: with some remarks on domestic architecture, as connected with scenery (London: Cadell [u.a.], 1835)

MISCELLANEOUS.

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“ grain, and hard solid wood; the other, a
44 white-wooded fir, with a much smaller pro-
44 portion of resin in it, of a coarser grain, and
44 of a soft spongy nature ; it never comes to
44 such a size, and is more liable to decay. At
“ first appearance this would readily denote
44 two distinct species ; but I am convinced
44 that all the trees in Scotland, under the
44 denomination of Scotch fir, are the same;
44 and that the difference of the quality of the
44 wood, and size of the trees, are entirely
44 owing to circumstances, such as climate,
44 situation, and the soil they grow in. The
44 finest fir trees appear in the most mountain-
44 ous parts of the Highlands of Scotland, in
44 glens, or on sides of hills generally lying to
44 a northerly aspect, and the soil of a hard
44 gravelly consistence, being the natural pro-
44 duce of these places.
44 Upon cutting a tree over close at the
44 root, I can venture to point out the exact
44 age, which, in these old firs, comes to an
44 amazing number of years. I lately pitched
44 upon a tree of two feet and a half diameter,
44 which is near the size of a planted fir of
44 fifty years of age, and I counted exactly two
44 hundred and fourteen circles or coats, which