GENUS LARTX. 67 



less than i inch in diameter. The long leaves make this 

 species appear far more light and airy than the common form ; 

 while the young foliage is of a glaucous green, but this soon 

 gives place to the darker colour of the mature specimen. In 

 loamy peat it thrives well, but is usually slow of growth, 

 although in south-western Scotland I have known fully 2 

 feet to be added to the height for several successive years. 



L. occidental is, Nuttall. {Syjionyms: — Pimis Larix, 

 Douglas ; L. americana brevifolia, Carriere ; Piniis Nuttallii, 

 Parlatore.) British Columbia, Oregon. — In its native country 

 this is a large-sized tree, the timber of which is said to be of 

 great economic value, being largely used for fencing and 

 railway ties. The thick, coarse bark is a peculiarity of the 

 tree, that has the protective merit of long resisting forest 

 fires. Young trees grow freely in this country when planted 

 in good fresh loam. The foliage is light and feathery, and 

 the cones, judging from specimens that have been forwarded 

 to me for comparison, are longer than those of either our 

 common species or the American black larch. 



L. pendula., Salisbury. American Black Larch, Tama- 

 rack, or Hackmatack. (^Synonyms : — Pinus viicrocarpa, 

 Lambert ; Larix niicrocarpa, Forbes ; L. americana, Michaux ; 

 Abies pendula and A. inicrocarpa, Lindley and Gordon ; Pinus 

 laricina, Duroi ; P. pendula, Aiton.) Eastern North America. 

 1739. — This is a valuable species in its native country, but 

 has never found much favour with planters here, and is rarely 

 seen in our woods and plantations.^ As seen in this country 

 it is usually of closer growth than our common tree, the 

 branches rather tortuous and drooping, and the foliage of a 

 greyish-green colour, and such as to at once strike one as 

 out of the common. It grows best in swampy ground, and 

 produces a very valuable timber that is extensively used for 

 railway purposes in America. For much valuable information 

 regarding this and other species of American larch I am in- 

 debted to Mr. Buchanan of Ontario. 



' At Eoynton, the property of Sir C. W. Strickland, both the black and red 

 American larches have, in certain situations, done well and attained to large 

 dimensions. 



