Observations on Larch. 421 
fir, formerly considered the hardiest tree of the north, cannot rear 
its head. In considerable tracts, where fragments of shivered 
rocks are strewed so thick, that vegetation scarcely me2ts the 
eye, the larch puts out as strong and vigorous shoots as are to be 
found in the valleys below, or in the most sheltered situations. 
I have been emploved for the last five years in forming a very 
extensive plantation of larch, on mountains similar to what I 
have described. The plantation embraces a tract of nearly eigh- 
teen hundred Scotch acres, nearly one thousand of which I have 
already planted (1807), mostly with larch, placing Scotch fir 
only in the wet grounds where larch will not grow, and mixing 
spruce on the highest points, finding from experience that that 
tree is next in value to the larch, and thrives in alpine situations 
almost equally well. 
In all the Jarch which I have cut, I have never met with one 
instance of decay. But I have seen larch cut in wet situations 
and tilly soil on low moors some miles below Dunkeld, which at 
forty years of age were decaying at the heart. The larch is cer- 
tainly an alpine tree, and does not thrive in wet situations. 
In 1795 a species of blight appeared on the larch, which in 
low situations destroyed numbers. The season in which this was 
observed to any extent, the frosts were very severe late in the 
spring, and the clouds of frost fog, which rested on the larch, in 
calm mornings, when just caming into leaf, produced the blight. 
I did not find trees above twenty-five or thirty feet in height af- 
fected by it, neither did it appear at all on the higher grounds, 
where a slight breeze of air could shake the trees. For eight or 
ten years past severe frosts at the end of spring and beginning of 
summer, have partially brought a somewhat similar blight, which, 
though not essentially injuring the growth of the wood, except 
in afew instances, nearly destroyed the flower of the larch, 
which has prevented my having been able to obtain larch seed 
in the quantity I wished, in order to carry my intention into ef- 
fect ;—to cover all the mountainous tract near Duukeld belong- 
ing in property to me, with larch, which I am persuaded, at the 
distance of sixty or seventy years from planting, will be fit for 
most naval purposes. 
The comparative value of larch and Scotch fir will not bear 
calculation. In the year 1800 I sold a Jarch of fifty years old for 
twelve guineas; while a fir, of the saine age, and in the same 
soil, brought fifteen shillings. A fall of snow will destroy in one 
night, and break and tear down sometimes more than one-third 
of a fir plantation. This I have often experienced at all ages. 
High winds also destroy firs in numbers, 
The larch are never broken by snow, and very seldom torn ye 
Dd3 y 
