LXXVII. CONIFER^: iA RIX. 



1055 



come out so early in spring, that they are liable to be injured by 

 frost. The female catkins do not expand their flowers till some 

 time after those of the European larch appear. The cones are iike 

 those of the American larch. 



^ t h. e. S dahurica. L. dahurica Lairs. Man. p. 389. Said to be a 

 stunted, bushy, and irregular-growing tree. Dahuria. Introduced 

 in 1827. Generally propagated by cuttings or layers. 



Y h. 9 intermedia, i. intermedia Laws. M. p. 389. ; Pinus intermedia 

 Lodd. Cat. ed. 1836 ; the Altaian Larch. A very strong luxuriant 

 habit of growth, with pendulous branches, and very large leaves. 

 Introduced in 1816, or before. Lod. 



Other Varieties. L. Frdseri Covip. Bot. Mag. vol. ii. p. SO'l. was disco- 

 vered and introduced by J. Fraser and his son, between 1785 and 1817 ; 

 but it is apparently lost. 



The wood of the larch is compact, and of a reddish or brown tinge; and, on 

 favourable soils, is said to be fit for every useful purpose in 40 years' growth ; 

 while that of the pinaster requires 60 years, and the Scotch pine 80 years. The 

 greatest drawback to the wood of the larch is its liability to warp. The rate 

 of growth of the larch, in the climate of London, is" from 20 ft. to 25 ft. in 10 



1972. L. eurcjJiE^a. 



years from the seed; and nearly. as great on the declivities of hills and 

 mountains in the Highlands of Scotland. In the course of 50 years, the tree 

 will attain the height of 80 ft. or upwards ; and, in its native habitats, ac- 

 cording to Willdenow, it lives from 150 to 200 years. The wood, according 

 to Hartig, weighs 68 lb. 13 oz. per cubic foot when green, and 36 lb. 6 oz. 

 when dry ; and, according to Kasthoffer, it lasts four times longer than that of 

 an}' other species of Jbietina?. Though the wood of the larch ignites with 

 difficulty, and a fire made of it will, if not attended to, extinguish itself before 

 the wood is half-consumed, yet, if properly managed, the wood of old trees is 

 capable of producing an intense heat. The charcoal is more rich in carbon than 

 that of the spruce or the silver fir, but less so than that of pine or beech. 

 It is very heavy, and weighs 16^- lb. per cubic foot ; it is said to be excellent 

 for iron founderies. The bark of young larches is astringent, and it is used in 

 the Alps for tanning leather; where the leaves and 30ung shoots are sopie- 

 tinies given to cattle. The resinous products of the larch are, Venice turpen- 

 tine, and the manna de Brian^on; and both are used in the state in which 

 they are procured from the tree. To obtain the turpentine, trees are chosen 



