EXAGGERATIONS. I 9 5 



were from London by Mr. Menzies of Migeny in 1736 

 or 1738. Five were left at Dunkeld and eleven at 

 Blair in Athole, as presents to the Duke. Of the five 

 planted at Dunkeld three have been cut down, two 

 of which were felled in 1809, one measuring 147 

 cubic feet, and the other 168 cubic feet. The third 

 one, as stated at page 1 8, was cut down in a frolic, 

 or through a capricious whim, to the no small sorrow 

 of the worthy proprietor. The last mentioned was 

 sold on the spot to a shipbuilding company in Leith 

 at 3s. per cubic foot, or £2^, 4s. for the tree. The 

 other two larches are of immense size, and continue to 

 grow on the lawn at Dunkeld. The popular account that 

 the trees at Dunkeld were the first larches that were 

 introduced into Scotland, and that they were imported 

 from Italy with other exotics, and nursed in a hot- 

 house, is believed, by those entitled to know, to be 

 quite authentic. There are various traditions about 

 the Dunkeld larches, but I got my information from 

 the son of a man who lived on the spot (James Hay), 

 and was employed on the estate at the time, and I 

 have no reason to doubt its accuracy. The Duke, 

 who was perfectly aware that larch would not grow 

 on every description of soil, says, " It is an error to 

 suppose that the larch will thrive on all soils and in 

 all situations. There are many kinds of soil in which 

 it will not thrive, and ought not to be planted. It 

 has been found that larch cankers in wet situations 

 and contracts heart-rot in wet soils. In cold and damp 

 situations it becomes fof^cred and covered with lichens." 



