LARIX. 319 



Its chief recommendations are its hardiness, and quickness 

 of growth." (Emerson.) 



P. Fraseri. The Double Balsam Fir. According to Em- 

 erson, this species has a great resemblance to the Balsam 

 Fir, with very little to distinguish them, except that, in the 

 Double Fir, the leaves are usually more crowded. " The ma- 

 ture cone presents a ready and certain distinction. It is of 

 about half the length, and two thirds the thickness, of the com- 

 mon Fir. There are, also, some other small differences, 

 which, however, are not sufficient, in the eyes of the common 

 people, to make two distinct species. From the great richness 

 and luxuriance of the foliage, the Double Balsam is a very 

 beautiful tree, and its leaves diffuse, a peculiarly agreeable res- 

 inous odor." It is a smaller tree than the Balsam Fir. 



LARIX. 



The Hacmatack Larch. 



The Larch is not an evergreen, but, as it comes under the 

 same natural division, and is found growing in company with 

 them, we shall notice it here. For ornamental purposes the 

 American Larch (Larix American) is much inferior to the Eu- 

 ropean species, (Larix communis.} 



" The Larches are deciduous trees, of cold and mountain- 

 ous regions of both continents. They are distinguished from 

 the other Pines by their leaves, which grow many together, in 

 bundles, from the top of buds, whose scales are as persistent 

 as the leaves." 



They grow from forty to eighty feet high. The European 

 is extensively cultivated in England and Scotland for timber ; 

 many thousands of acres of poor, waste land are improved to 

 great advantage for this purpose. 



For ornamental purposes the Larch is important, on account 

 of its rapid growth, beautiful symmetrical shape, and thick 

 foliage, which is of an agreeable light bluish-green. The 



