310 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



Larch is the best coniferous timber grown in Britain, 

 for construction above and below ground ; it is also 

 used for ship building. In Britain it is used for a 

 great variety of purposes; it is much prized for railway 

 sleepers, mining purposes, and makes an excellent fence- 

 wood. Its price per cubic foot is generally about double 

 that of Scotch Pine timber. The bark is used for 

 tanning and dyeing. It yields Venetian turpentine. 



b. Distribution. 



The homes of the Larch are the Alps, the Carpathian 

 and Moravian mountains, and Siberia. It has been culti- 

 vated in many countries, so that it is now found all 

 over Europe between about the 42nd and 58th degrees 

 of latitude. Larch is a true mountain tree ; it is gene- 

 rally found in the Alps between 3,000 and 6,000 feet 

 elevation, but goes up to 7,000, that is to say to the 

 upper limit of tree growth. It is said to have been 

 introduced into Britain in 1629 (Brown). Its cultiva- 

 tion in Scotland was commenced about the year 1725, 

 the Duke of Athol having begun planting it over 

 extensive areas about that time. It is found in the 

 Highlands up to about 2,000 feet elevation, though its 

 cultivation does not generally pay if planted above 

 1,500 feet. 



c. Locality. 



Climate. Larch ?an do with a lower mean annual 

 temperature than any other timber tree mentioned in 

 this chapter. It suffers from drought, is hardy against 

 frost in its natural home, but liable to suffer somewhat 



