8i 



XXVII. 



ABIETINE^. 



LARICEM. 



THE LARCH. 



LARIX EUROP.EA. 



A native of the Alps and distincSlly a moun- 

 tainous tree, the larch was introduced into Great 

 Britain about the middle of the Eighteenth 

 Century. Its value was quickly appreciated. 

 During the last hundred years no tree has been 

 more extensively planted in the North country 

 and the hilly districts of the West. The larch 

 grows to most perfection on slopes, and in valleys 

 in a loose soil, and where its roots are kept cool 

 but not in stagnant water. On exposed plains, 

 the tree becomes stunted, and in hard gravel 

 subsoils, a rot is liable to set in when the tree 

 is from twenty to thirty years old. If this takes 

 place, the tree should be felled, and, owing to its 

 rapid growth, it should then be useful for many 

 purposes. 



Although light in weight, no wood used in this 

 country will last longer in the ground, with the 



