270 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



which it seems to have caught from the wild and rugged 

 chasms, rocks, and precipices of its native mountains. 

 There its irregular and spiry top and branches, harmonize 

 admirably with the abrupt variation of the surroundmg 

 hills, and suit well with the gloomy grandeur of those 

 frowning heights. 



Like all highly expressive and characteristic trees, much 

 more care is necessary in introducing the Larch into 

 artificial scenery judiciously, than round-headed trees. If 

 planted in abundance, it becomes monotonous, from the 

 similitude of its form in different specimens ; it should 

 therefore be introduced sparingly, and always for some 

 special purpose. This purpose may be either to give spirit 

 to a group of other trees, to strengthen the already pic- 

 turesque character of a scene, or to give life and variety 

 to one naturally tame and uninteresting. All these objects 

 can be fully effected by the Larch ; and although it is by 

 far the most suited to harmonize with and strengthen the 

 expression of scenery naturally grand, or picturesque, with 

 which it most readily enters into combination ; yet, in the 

 hands of taste, there can be no reason why so marked a 

 tree should not be employed in giving additional expression 

 to scenery of a tamer character. 



The extremely rapid growth of this tree when planted 

 upon thin, barren, and dry soils, is another great merit 

 which it possesses as an ornamental tree ; and it is also a 

 necessary one to enable it to thrive well on those very 

 rocky and barren soils, where it is most in character with 

 the surrounding objects. It is highly valuable to produce 

 effect or shelter suddenly, on portions of an estate, too thin 

 or meagre in their soil to afford the sustenance necessary 

 to the growth of many other deciduous trees. 



