24 THE LARCH. 



Evelyn says : " Abies, Picea, Pinus, Pinaster, larch, 

 &c., all of them easily raised of the kernels and nuts 

 which maybe gotten out of theiv jJoly sperm and turlinati 

 cones, clogs, and squams, by exposing them to the sun, 

 or a little before the fire, or in warm water, till they 

 begin to gape, and are ready to deliver themselves of 

 their numerous burdens." 



The ancients had great faith in the influence of the 

 moon, and directed that all seeds be sown before the 

 full moon; and also that cuttings of all kinds, and like- 

 wise grafting, be done during the first or second quarter 

 of the moon. They also maintained that wood cut 

 during the wane of the moon did not last so long in 

 implements, &c., as that cut during the waxing moon. 

 And it is the practice even at the present day, in some 

 parts of the Highlands of Scotland, only to cut during 

 the oTowth of the moon such trees as are desired to 



o 



produce scions or copse from the stools. These are all 

 matters little, if at all, now regarded, but there can be 

 no harm in any one, having time and leisure at com- 

 mand, making proof of the theories. 



Varieties. — The red-flowering larch is by some con- 

 sidered hardy enough to endure cold and other un- 

 favourable circumstances, it being a native of the 

 Alps in Switzerland; while others assert, on the 

 contrary, that the white variety is best adapted for 

 planting in this country, it being a native of Tyrol. 

 This difference of opinion arises from the fact that, 

 under certain conditions, both varieties fail or succeed. 

 The success is not, however, due to the variety, but 



