THE LAECH. 



THE Larch, though one of the coniferous trees, is not 

 an evergreen. It is generally known in this country as 

 the Hacmatack, a name given it by the Indians. In favor- 

 able situations it attains a great height, though we are 

 familiar with it as a tree of but ordinary size and 

 stature. Its branches are very numerous, and irregularly 

 disposed at right angles with the main stem, and not in 

 very apparent whorls. The terminal branches are small 

 and numerous, making considerable spray, but without 

 much character. The American and the European Larch 

 do not differ in their manner of putting forth their larger 

 branches, nor in their botanical characters. They are 

 distinguished, however, by an important difference in 

 the style of their secondary branches. The European tree 

 has a graceful hanging spray, drooping perpendicularly 

 from its horizontal boughs, and swinging in the wind 

 like that of the Norway spruce. The American tree has 

 a shorter spray, not in the least pendent, with an appear- 

 ance of more sturdiness, and less formality of outline. It 

 displays, therefore, less of that beauty which is caused by 

 flowing lines ; on the other hand, it exhibits more firmness 

 in its general aspect, and is a more stately tree. I prefer 

 the American Larch because it departs further from that 

 primness which distinguishes the coniferous trees. As it 

 increases in height, it loses its tapering summit, and forms 

 a head of flattened and irregular shape. 



The Larch bears no part in romantic history. Neither 

 the ancient poets nor historians say much about it. 



