USES AXD VALUE OF WOOD. I 33 



honey, but has a turpentine flavour, as it contains 

 some turpentine. The Boletus Laricinus, a globular- 

 shaped fungus which yields a fine purple dye and 

 has been somewhat extensively used in medicine, i& 

 found in the trunks of old trees in the northern parts 

 of Europe. 



If an edict were passed forbidding the growth of all 

 but one species of tree in this country, there is no 

 manner of doubt but that one would be the larch. 



The root of the tree is as important and valuable 

 as any other part of it, and is extensively used in boat 

 and ship building as knees or crooks for supporting 

 the decks. In throwing the trees, which is done by 

 grubbing, from 2 to 3 feet of the stem is left attached 

 to the root, and the block thus cut off is set on end 

 and cleft with the saw, sometimes into two, sometimes 

 into four or more pieces, according to size and suitable- 

 ness of the root. Such roots realise prices varying 

 from I OS. to 50s., according to size, &c. The proper 

 mode of larch cultivation favours the growth and 

 development of such roots, and it may fairly be ques- 

 tioned if the tree has been grown under favourable 

 conditions when it does not produce largely developed 

 knee roots. 



It is not to be thought that grubbing the trees is at 

 all laborious or expensive work. In some cases, as on 

 moss or peat soil, two men will as soon grub a tree 

 as cut it down close and level with the surface of the 

 ground. The grubbing should, however, in most cases 

 be done by contract, and will cost from is. to 2s. 6d. 



