236 TRANSACTIONS OP ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



only say that the Duke at great length gave strict directions 

 where to plant Larch, and what soils had to be avoided. When 

 such erroneous statements are made without being corrected, 

 there can be no wonder that people have little faith in planting 

 Larch. 



But how do the glowing reports of the different Excursions 

 agree with this mournful discussion on the 7th of August 190L 

 The Duke's successful experiments during half a century appear 

 to me to be ignored by the present generation. We ought to pay 

 a little attention to his writings, especially as the results of his 

 prolonged practical planting operations in the naturalisation of 

 this alpine tree accord with the opinions of scientific authorities 

 and of many practical men. I think this fact adds much to the 

 credit of the Duke's careful and correct observations made during 

 a long period. 



All the false doctrines and prejudices which exist to-day about 

 the Larch are refuted in the Diike's Account, and they all find 

 in it a suitable answer in a most convincing manner, everything 

 being based upon practical results. No better proof can be given 

 of the Duke's keenness of observation than his remarks regarding 

 the Larch disease. 



However ignorant he must have been of the nature of this 

 disease, — Hartig's scientific researches were made long after his 

 death, — still he knew the only " remedy " for it was to treat tlit 

 Larch as an alpine tree I 



In one respect the Duke was wrong. He planted the Larch to 

 grow timber for the ships of the navy. His calculations are of 

 the highest interest, although in one point they proved erroneous. 

 He estimated the timber to be most valuable for shipbuilding, 

 — he could not anticipate our age of steel and iron, — but never- 

 theless his financial calculation of the value of the Larch timber 

 has proved just. The superiority of Larch wood was manifest in 

 the Duke's time, and is so still, being dearer and much more 

 valuable than the wood of the Scots Fir; and the late Duke was 

 right in noting in his day-book : "I have no hesitation in saying 

 that the price, when the wood is thoroughly known, will long 

 continue superior to the best foreign fir timber, and little inferior 

 to the oak." 



As to the value of Larch wood compared with that of the 

 Douglas Fir and other conifers, I will give here, at the end of 

 this article, very interesting evidence. 



