2370 ARBORFTUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III 



" The larch," Sir Thomas Dick Lauder observes, " is unquestionably by much 

 the most enduring timber we have. It is remarkable, that, whilst the red wood, 

 or heart wood, is not formed at all in the other resinous trees till they have lived 

 for a good many years, the larch, on the other hand, begins to make it soon 

 after it is planted ; and, whilst you may fell a Scotch fir of 30 years old, 

 and find no redwood in it, you can hardly cut down a young larch large 

 enough to be a walking-stick, without finding just such a proportion of red 

 wood, compared to its diameter as a tree, as you will find in the largest larch 

 in the forest compared to its diameter." (Land. Gilp., i. p. 153.) 



For Naval Purposes, Matthew observes, the larch, from its general lateral 

 toughness (particularly the root), and from its lightness, seems better adapted 

 for the construction of shot-proof vessels, than any other timber." It has 

 been used for ship-building in the Tay, he says, since 1810; and there were, in 

 1830, several thousand tons of shipping constructed of it. " The Athole 

 frigate, built of it about 1818 ; the Larch, a fine brig, built by the Duke of 

 Athole several years earlier ; and many other vessels^ built more recently ; 

 prove that larch is as valuable for naval purposes as the most sanguine 

 had anticipated. The first instance we have heard of British larch being 

 used in this manner was in a sloop repaired with it about 1808. The person 

 to whom it had belonged, and who had sailed it himself, stated to us, imme- 

 diately after its loss, that this sloop had been built of oak about 36 years 

 before; that at 18 years old her upper timbers were so much decayed as 

 to require renewal, which was done with larch ; that 18 years after this 

 repair, the sloop went to pieces on the remains of the pier of Methel, Fife- 

 shire, and the top timbers and second foot-hooks of larch were washed ashore 

 as tough and sound as when first put into the vessel, not one spot of decay 

 appearing. The owner of a larch brig, who had employed her for several 

 years on tropical voyages, also assures us that the timber will wear well in any 

 climate, and adds that he would prefer larch to any other kind of wood, espe- 

 cially for small vessels ; he also states that the deck of this brig, composed of 

 larch planks, stood the tropical heat well, and that it did not warp or shrink, 

 as was apprehended. 



" Larch knees are possessed of such strength and durability, and are of such 

 adaptation by their figure and toughness, that, were a sufficient quantity in 

 the market, and their qualities generally known, we believe that none else 

 would be used for vessels of any description of timber, even for our war navy 

 of oak. The knees of vessels have a number of strong bolts, generally of 

 iron, passing through them to secure the beam-ends to the sides of the ship. 

 Larch knees are the more suited for this, as they do not split in the driving of 

 the bolts, and contain a resinous gum, which prevents the oxidation of the 

 iron. 



" In all places where larch has become known, it has completely superseded 

 other timber for clinker-built boats, surpassing all others in strength, light- 

 ness, and durability. For this purpose, young trees of about 9 in. in diameter, 

 in root-cuts from 10ft. to 20ft. in length (for as you ascend the tree, the 

 timber deteriorates greatly), with a gentle bend at one end, such as the larch 

 often receives from the south-west wind, are the most suitable. The log 

 should be kept in the bark till used ; and, in dry weather, the boards put upon 

 the boat's side within two or three days from being sawn out, as no timber 

 we are acquainted with parts sooner with its moisture than larch ; and the 

 boards do not work or bend pleasantly when dry. When dried, the thin 

 larch board is at once strong, tough, durable, and extremely light. 



" For rural Purposes generally, larch is incomparably the best adapted tim- 

 ber, especially for rails, fences, or out-door fabrics exposed to wind and 

 weather. It is also getting into use for implements of husbandry, such as 

 harrows, ploughs, and carts. We have seen a larch upright paling, the timber 

 of which, with the exception of the large charred posts, had only been eight 

 years in growing, standing a good fence, sixteen years old, decked out by 

 moss and lichen in all the hoary garniture of time. 



