(2793- - on the value and uses of the larch tree. 9t 
present. 1 will not attempt to state the saving on 
} this article ; nor to estimate the difference that would 
arise from the superior durability of these rakes : 
but when it is adverted to that the larix scarcely — 
fhrinks at all after it has been once dry, and that 
hay rakes at present are often rendered uselefs in 2 
very few days, merely because of the fhrinking of 
the wood, the saving here must -be obviously very 
great. 
: Sneads or handles for sythes. 
The same peculiarities that render larix good for 
hay rakes, point it out as the most proper of all sub- 
stances for sneads or fhafts for sythes. From the na- 
ture of the growth of this tree, it becomes suscep- 
tible of one advantage for this purpose that no o- 
ther wood pofsefses. By a very little attention it 
might be easy to select such spires as had branches 
springing out from the stem, at the places where 
the fhort handles are required, and in the position 
that is necefsary for that purpose: this would save 2 
considerable expence of iron work in mounting the 
sythe. ‘The branches of the larch often spring from 
the stem nearly at right angles. The only thing 
that would be wanted to render these perfect, would 
be to make these branches thick enough, by fixing u~ 
pon these snags a piece of turned wood, as is done for 
the handles of hedge fheers, to be grasped in the 
hand of the mower, What gave me the first idea 
of this improvement was, the seeing some sneads 
that had been,made of a piece of fir lath plained, 
in which was stuck into two neat mortoises made 
in the snead for that purpose, two fhort handles of 
t 
