CHAP. CX/II. CONi'fER/E. iA^KIX. 2371 



" In the Construction of Buildings, larcli is valuable only for the grosser parts, 

 as beams, lintels, joists, couples. For the finer boarded part, it is so much 

 disposed to warp, and so difficult to be worked, as generally to preclude use. 

 It is, however, asserted that, if larch be seasoned by standing two years with 

 the bark stripped from the bole before being cut down, the timber becomes 

 manageable for the finer house-work." 



The Durability/ of the Larch, when alternately exposed to Water and Air, was 

 proved by an experiment made in the river Thames, at the suggestion of the 

 Duke of Athol. " Posts," Sir Thomas Dick Lauder observes, " of equal 

 thickness and strength, some df larch and others of oak, were driven down 

 facing the river wall, where they were alternately covered with water by the 

 flow of the tide, and left dry by its fall. This species of alternation is the 

 most trying of all circumstances for the endurance of timber; and, accordingly, 

 the oaken posts decayed, and were twice renewed, in the course of a very 

 few years; whilst those which were made of larch remained altogether un- 

 changed. "We had ourselves," says Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, "occasion to 

 erect a foot-bridge to a pleasure walk over a sunk road, and this we ordered to 

 be constructed of two long stretching beams, covered transversely with larch 

 planks. In 14 or 15 years afterwards, we discovered symptoms of decay in 

 the bridge, and ordered the carpenter to new plank it ; but, when he came to 

 carry our directions into execution, he discovered that the whole planks were 

 quite sound, with the exception of three ; and that these three, which were 

 rotten almost to powder, were Scotch fir planks, which had been taken in 

 a hurry, at the time the bridge was built, to supply a deficiency in the 

 original number of the larch planks." {Laud. Gilp., i. p. 154.) 



In Mill-work, and especially for mill axles, where oak only used formerly 

 to be employed, larch has been substituted by the Duke of Athol, in 1806, 

 with the best effect. In the winter of that year, in cutting up an old decayed 

 mill wheel. His Grace found those parts of the water cogs which had been 

 repaired with larch in 1786, though black on the surface, on the hatchet being 

 applied, as sound and fresh as when put up. 



In Railroads, it is found to form excellent sleepers, and so great was the 

 demand for it in 1836 and 1837, for this purpose, that it could scarcely be 

 supplied even with the extensive plantations in Scotland. 



As Hop Poles and Stakes for Plants, no wood whatever equals the larch. 

 For these purposes, it ought to be planted close, so as to be drawn up with 

 trunks of the requisite degree of slenderness ; for, when planted thin, the 

 stems are apt to become disproportionately thick below, as Cobbett describes 

 to be the case with the sweet chestnut. (See p. 1996.) We have seen the 

 larch, at 3 ft. apart, drawn up to the height of between 40 ft. and 50 ft., with 

 clear straight stems, admirably adapted for hop-poles, and for poles for orna- 

 mental purposes in gardens ; such as staking roses, forming arches and rustic 

 work for training creepers, espaliers for fruit trees, &c. Even the young trees, 

 which have been allowed to attain the height of 4 ft. or 5 ft. in nursery lines, 

 make excellent props for the more delicate plants ; and, when used with the 

 bark on, will last, for an indefinite period. 



As Guards for single Trees and small Groups, the larch possesses the advan- 

 tages of strength to resist the rubbing of cattle ; of durability at the surface 

 of the ground, where it is alternately wet and dry ; and of economy, because, 

 when the bark is kept on, the expense of painting or Kyanising is unnecessary. 

 As live and as dead Fences, the larch possesses peculiar properties, bearing 

 the shears apparently as well as the spruce. (See p. 2306.) Sir Thomas 

 Dick Lauder once saw a very pretty larch fence in a gentleman's pleasure- 

 ground near Loch Lomond. " The trees were planted at equal distances 

 from each other; and, being clipped, were half cut through towards the top, 

 and bent down over each other. In many instances, the top shoot of the 

 one had insinuated itself into that adjacent to it, so as to have become cor- 

 porally united to it ; and, strange as it may seem, we actually found one top 

 that had so inserted itself, which, having been rather deeply cut originally by 



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