Of Plantations. 481 



be laid in the shade, where they are skreened from the sun, 

 and upon rough wood, to prevent their touching the earth, 

 which would be injurious to them. The larch adapts itself to 

 a variety of soils and exposures ; while the wood it furnishes 

 is of the best quality, even though raised in elevated situa- 

 tions, and on soils of inferior quality. It will thrive at 

 the height of 1200 feet above the level of the sea, and even 

 higher. The wood is closer in its pores, and has fewer large 

 knots than the Scotch fir. It is light, strong, and durable, 

 and peculiarly suitable for roofs and floors of buildings, but 

 is liable to cast or warp when used for doors and shutters. 

 It is peculiarly fitted, from its property of burning with dif- 

 ficulty, for various uses in architecture. Its bark possesses, 

 in a high degree, the tanning principle, and it is much 

 esteemed for preparing calf skins for boot legs, answering 

 better than oak bark for that purpose. Its growth is so ra- 

 pid, that if the ground be tolerable, it becomes in thirty 

 years, fit for various household and other purposes ( 564 ). It 

 is well adapted to mill-work ; and in ship-building, may be 

 used, as a substitute for oak ( 55S ). It is found also, that the 

 larch, from the droppings of its leaves, will, in the space of 

 a few years, convert a barren heath, into grass land, worth 

 from five to ten shillings per acre. 



Some maintain, that the larch resists well the effects of 

 being alternately wet and dry ; but Mr Blaikie has found 

 it so deficient in that respect, that he thinks it ought not to 

 be employed for gate-posts, or other outdoor purposes. Per- 

 haps the difference of opinion in this matter is owing to the 

 timber being used at different periods of its growth. 



In some instances, the larch is liable to a disease, and its 

 leaves are destroyed by insects, more especially in low and 

 damp situations. By some, this disorder is attributed to want 

 of circulation of air, from the trees being planted too close 

 together. Where they stand bold and single, they are not 

 liable to it. Others ascribe this circumstance to the present 

 practice of raising plants, from the seed of trees that had 

 not arrived at their full maturity, and sometimes even from 

 layers which strike root. It is not improbable that the 

 larch, originally introduced from the mountains of Carniola, 

 will at length degenerate with us, at least as to perfecting 

 healthy seed. Hence it would be advisable, to import an- 

 nually, at least a portion of the seed used in our nurseries, 

 from the Alpine regions. 



In Norfolk the larch thrives well, for the space of twenty 

 2H2 



