The girt of the largest common spruce on the estate is 5 ft. 10 in. at the surface of the ground; and that of the largest black spruce is 5 ft. 1 in. The peculiarities of growth which we have mentioned are shown in several specimens in different parts of the property; the most fantastic of which is one growing in the centre of a piece of elevated mossy ground, about an acre in extent, and within the boundary of the kitchengarden wall, called the Wilderness. This tree has received the appellation of the Travelling Fir, on

ac

count of its branches having taken root

wherever they have

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come in contact with the soil. In this specimen ( fig. 2215., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft.), many natural layers from the trunk, and from the primary substems, have taken root, so as to form a double series of young trees, in two concentric circles round the parent trunk. The depth of the peat soil where this remarkable spruce grows is about 14 ft. That portion of the branch which is between the trunk of the original tree and the part where it roots into the ground, and which is sometimes several feet in length, rarely increases in diameter after its extremity has rooted (as shown in fig. 2216., to a scale of 2 in. to 4 ft.). If these horizontal branches do increase in diameter, it is in a very slight degree; as some branches proceeding both from the main trunk and from primary substems, in the first concentric circle of young trees formed by them, vary from 2 ft. to 6 ft. in length, and are only from 14 in. to 2 in. in diameter; while their extremities, which have rooted in the ground, and assumed the appearance of stems, vary from 6 in. to 2ft. in circumference. The branches proceeding from the primary substems have also branches, equally healthy with themselves, proceeding from them, and with every appearance of their producing others; which, if allowed room, may, in course of time, cover the whole Wilderness. That portion of the main stem, or trunk of the parent tree, which remains above the surface of the soil, is little more than 4 ft. high before upright branches are produced ; and it is 7 ft. in its greatest circumference. These upright branches, or rather limbs, are from 30 ft. to 35 ft. in height. The primary substems, which constitute the inner concentric circle of young trees, vary from 8 ft. to 25 ft. in height; and the secondary substems, which form the trees of the outer circle, are from 4 ft. to 10 ft. high. There are upwards of thirty rooted stems surrounding the mother tree; and 30 ft. is the greatest diameter of the space covered by stoloniferous branches; though in one case a secondary layer has reached as far as 18 ft. from the main trunk. The other specimens of this kind of tree were far inferior in size to the one now described; perhaps owing to the cattle browsing the side shoots, and destroying the tops of the young offspring;

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whereas no cattle could enter the Wilderness to injure the spruce growing there. Besides the tree mentioned, other anomalies, equally interesting, occur in two specimens, also of Norway spruce, which were blown down a great many years ago. The gardener, Mr. Young, has been at the Whim 15 years; and, during that period, no difference, he says, has been observable on the horizontal portions; but he knows considerable alteration in the upright stems, both as regards their circumference and height. One of these is called the Manof-War Spruce. (Fig. 2217., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft.) It has four stems, differing in height and distance from each other, as represented in the figure; the tallest being 34 ft. in height from the ground. At first sight, this tree seems to derive its principal nourishment from the lower portion of the root, at the extremity of the fallen stem: such, however, is not the case; for, on digging beside the horizontal trunk, several strong roots were found to have proceeded from the under portion of it, and these roots spread out many feet, at a few inches under the surface. In the other specimens (fig. 2218., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft.), roots were seen protruding above ground, from the side of the horizontal stem; and, when ex

amined by digging, the under surface was also found to have produced

roots. In both examples, the original tops had decayed close to the uppermost arborescent branch; no doubt, in consequence of their not being able to turn upright notwithstanding, however, the extremities of both have a tendency towards the upright position." (Gard. Mag., vol. xiii. P. 249.)

Geography. The common spruce is indigenous to the hills and mountains of Europe and Asia, in places where the surface of the soil is moist, and the atmosphere cold and humid. It is most common in Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Denmark, and throughout the north of Germany. It is found on mountains in France, on the Alps, the Pyrenees, in the Vosges, in Burgundy, on the Jura, in Switzerland, and in Belgium. According to Pallas, it abounds in the north of Russia, and in Siberia ; occupying cold, marshy, and springy places, and the valleys between mountains. Beyond the Lena, and in Kamtschatka, it is wanting; but it frequently occurs in the Kurile Isles. In the north

of Russia and Siberia, it reaches to the arctic circle, and in some places beyond it; and in the north of Sweden and Lapland, as far as N. lat. 69°. It grows on the Swedish mountains at the elevation of 2000 ft., where P. sylvestris, according to Dr. Agardh (Gard. Mag., vol. xii. p. 63.), is found principally in the plains. On the Lapland mountains, it grows at the height of 1000 ft. The spruce, in Norway, according to Schouw, extends to N. lat. 70°, and there grows at an elevation of 750 ft. In the south of Norway, it grows at the height of 3000 ft. The order of hardiness of the Scandinavian trees, according to Schouw, is: 1. the birch, which grows nearest the summits of the mountains; 2. the spruce fir; and, 3. the Scotch pine. The superior hardiness of the spruce to any other trees of the pine and fir tribe is thus established beyond a doubt. (See Gard. Mag., vol. xii. p. 60.) The soil in which the spruce fir is generally found differs from that in which the Scotch pine abounds, in being softer and moister on the surface. Among dry rocks and stones, where the Scotch pine would flourish, the spruce fir will scarcely grow. The spruce fir, on the Alps of Switzerland, is frequently found above 150 ft. in height, with trunks from 4 ft. to 5 ft. in diameter, growing in moist soil in mountain valleys; and the timber of these trees is hard, tough, and very durable. The finest forests of this tree which we have seen are on the southern shores of the Baltic, between Memel and Königsberg, where the surface consists of a thin stratum of black peaty soil, incumbent on a bed of sand, and the whole of which is under water a great part of every winter. We have also seen the tree making a fine appearance on rocky banks in different parts of Sweden; but scarcely anywhere in that country is it to be found in situations so grand and picturesque as it is in Norway.

In the year 1817, and subsequently, a great many views in Norway were taken by James White, Esq., all of which he has kindly lent to us; and, from these we have made a selection to show the effect of the spruce fir, the Scotch pine, and, as connected with them, the common birch, in landscape scenery.

Fig. 2219. is a view of the Pass of Kroglevin, on the road to Ringerike,

near the Lake of Tiri Fiord, showing the effect of the spruce fir and the Scotch pine, on rocky precipices. The lake seen in the middle distance is Tiri Fiord.

Fig. 2220. is a view of a lake, and the surrounding hills and mountains, near Wasbotten, between the towns of Porsgrund and Laurwig, showing the spruce fir, together with some groups and masses of Scotch pine on mountain scenery.

Fig. 2221. is a view on the road from Porsgrund to Laurwig, not far from the town of Porsgrund, which shows the effect of the spruce fir on low hills and in bottoms.

Fig. 2222. is a view of Illoe Fors, near Schion, showing an extensive forest of Scotch pine on an extent of table land, with groups of

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the spruce, as contrasted with those of the birch; and showing the fine effect of the latter tree when standing singly, or in small loose groups. In this respect, indeed, the birch differs from most other trees, at no period of its growth having a picturesque effect in masses.

History. Pliny frequently men.

tions the spruce fir, which he calls picea (whence the French names Epicea and Sapin - Pesse), and which, he says, produced tears of resin that could scarcely be distinguished from incense. He also mentions its use in funeral ceremonies, on which occasions a branch was placed at the door of the house of the deceased; and informs us that it was used when green for the funeral pile.

Though the spruce fir is generally allowed not to be a native of Britain, it appears to have been introduced at a very early period, as Turner includes it in his Names of Herbes, published in 1548; and both Gerard and Parkinson not only give very good engravings of it, but speak of its being found in great quantities in different parts of the island. The early British writers on trees, however, appear to have often confounded the Scotch pine with the spruce fir; and it is remarkable, that neither of the above-mentioned writers mentions the Scotch pine at all, though it is probably the tree Parkinson means, when he speaks of the "firre tree" growing wild in Scotland. The name of the fir tree, according to Gerard, was originally fire tree, in allusion to the use of the wood for torches and fuel; and it was also called the mast tree, and the deale tree. The spruce fir has always been considered, in Britain, as an ornamental tree; and, from the time of Miller, it has been introduced as such in parks and pleasure-ground scenery. About the end of the last century, and in the beginning of the present one, it was recommended by Adam, Sang, and others, in Scotland, and by Pontey in England, as well adapted for sheltering other trees; but it has never been planted in immense masses in Britain, as a timber tree, like the Scotch pine, though it has been so in Germany; and, from the various uses to which it may be applied even in a young state, it well deserves to be so in every country where it will thrive. The timber, which is called, in Norway, spruce pine, has been for an unknown period imported from that country into Britain, chiefly in the form of entire trunks, which are used for scaffoldingpoles, spars, oars, and masts for small craft; but partly, also, sawn into planks or deals, known in commerce as white deal, white Baltic deal, and white Christiania deal; the red deal being, for the most part, the timber of P. syl