28 THE CHUONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



a briglit flame, while the larch, from its toughness and 

 compactness, resists the action of fire ; so that its wood 

 is recommended for the beams of houses, as a beam of pine 

 or dry oak will be in a blaze before one made of larch will 

 be charred. 



The ash is also said to be, in point of utility, little in- 

 ferior to the oak ; it has been called " the husbandman's 

 tree," nothing being equal to it for agricultural implements ; 

 while its roots being finely veined and susceptible of a 

 good polish, make beautiful articles of furniture. The 

 lime, box, and larch, claim consideration as the trees used 

 by carvers, engravers, and artists : the first being the wood 

 used by the celebrated Grinling Gibbons for his exquisite 

 imitations of fruit and flowers, wherewith so many old 

 mansion-houses are decorated ; the box is used by wood- 

 engravers for the blocks on which their designs are cut ; 

 and the larch furnished panels on which Raphael and other 

 masters painted many of their immortal works. Larch 

 will also take high polish, and may be wrought into 

 beautiful wainscot. Elm and elm-roots, walnut, birch, 

 laburnum and yew, all are capable of being wrought into 



looking, planning some crime apart. Those, purple lined with 

 orange, display their magnificent attire in the midst of a crowd of 

 gray knobs, that stand round at respectful distances, pachas in their 

 harems ! These, bright as silver, smooth as silk, a satin dome 

 above, ivory gills below. There are some rainbow-coloured, some of 

 pale gold. Whence do they come ? — whither do they go ? When 

 the mists of autumn hang heavy on the earth, what sun purpled 

 them, ])ainted them sulphur-coloured, gave them their mother-of- 

 jiearl iriJescence ? " 



