34 THE LARCH. 



pith. In order, therefore, to grow larch tall, straight, 

 equally and duly branched all round, with the pith 

 in the centre, and the tree proportionally developed 

 throughout, it requires a situation where it is protected 

 from prevailing high winds, but especially the south 

 and west. As the prevailing winds in Scotland are 

 from the west, larch is therefore best grown in an 

 eastern exposure. Though there are many famous 

 larches and larch plantations in this country upon 

 southern exposures, yet, to say the least, there are 

 equally good ones upon northern exposures. As 

 samples of trees growing upon northern exposures, 

 may be mentioned those splendid old trees at Dun- 

 keld, Dawick House, Kippenross, Novar, Monymusk, 

 CuUen House, &c. All the preceding, though northernly 

 exposed, have attained at least 90 feet in height, 

 and contain from 150 to nearly 500 cubic feet of 

 timber. As a rule, the north side of a hill is best 

 adapted to grow larch to age and large dimensions, 

 while upon the south it grows more readily when 

 newly planted, and comes sooner to maturity. 



Of all the subjects connected with the cultivation 

 and growth, &c., of larch, none have been so keenly 

 discussed as the kind and quality of soil most suitable 

 for it. Every person accustomed to work in soils and 

 to examine them knows how much their properties 

 and qualities change as he digs his way down ; and 

 though the appearance of soils upon the surface may 

 be much alike, yet at a depth of less than twelve 

 inches they may differ essentially. The different 



