248 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



south of the upper portion of Virginia, and even in those 

 localities only in exposed mountainous districts, in moist, 

 swampy soil. In the northern portion of its district, in 

 Canada, etc., it is known as the Hackmatack / iii the 

 southern portion, in New Jersey, etc., as the Tamarack ; 

 but the most desirable and appropriate name is American 

 Larch, which, with the Slack Larch, is universally un- 

 derstood. It is the Epinette rouge of the French Cana- 

 dians, thus perhaps giving rise to the name of lied 

 Larch, which was described by Loudon as a variety, L. 

 Americana rubra, and adopted by Lambert as a species, 

 L. microcarpa. According to Gray, it is probably only 

 a variety, which change of climate may diversify into other 

 forms. 



This species was remarked by Michaux to grow on up- 

 lands, in the colder and more northern districts, and in 

 low, moist ground, as it advanced further south, and he 

 reasoned that this peculiarity was owing to its constitu- 

 tion being better adapted to extreme cold, and that the 

 climate of the United States was too warm for it. In cul- 

 tivation, however, we have found it to succeed on almost 

 any soil, and in moist, deep soil making immense annual 

 growths of occasionally 5 or 6 feet. 



According to Mathew, in London's Arboretum, " The 

 soils suitable for Larch are sound rock, covered with loam ; 

 gravel, not ferruginous, in which water does not stagnate, 

 even though nearly bare of vegetable mould ; firm dry 

 clays ; and sound brown loam all very rough ground, par- 

 ticularly ravines. The most desirable situation is where 

 the roots will neither be drowned by stagnant water in 

 winter, nor parched by drought in summer." 



In regard to the quality of the timber of the American 

 Larch, Michaux says: "It is superior to any species of 

 Pine or Spruce, and unites all the properties which dis- 

 tinguish the European species, being exceedingly strong 

 and singularly durable. In Canada it is considered as 



