272 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



wreathes not into vigorous and fantastic branches ; a yew, 

 which grows into thin and varied forms ; a plane tree, or a 

 horsechestnut, which assumes not a deep and almost solid 

 mass of foliage, appear to us as imperfect and deformed pro- 

 ductions. They seem to aim at an expression which they 

 do not reach ; and we speak of them accordingly as wanting 

 the beauty, because they want the character, of their class." 

 — Principles of Taste. 



The larch tends to uniformity in its shape when young, 

 and to variety when it is old ; yet the fine pyramidal forms 

 of the young trees and the wreathed and contorted growth 

 of the old trees are equally characteristic. I regret that this 

 tree has not been more extensively planted, especially in rude 

 scenery, with which its character is allied, and on high and 

 gravelly soils, which are congenial to its habits. But it is 

 not objectionable as an ornamental tree, for our enclosures or 

 the road-side, though its appropriate situations are those rocky 

 hills, so common on our coast, where the juniper and the 

 barberry seem to contend, on nearly equal terms, for the 

 sovereignty of the domain. If I were obliged to decide 

 which of the two species ought to be preferred, I would 

 choose the American tree, because the most noble larches 

 which I have seen are of this species. 



The foliage of the American larch is of a light green, with 

 a bluish tinge, turning to a yellowish brown in November, 

 previous to its fall. One of the minor beauties of this tree 

 consists of the bright red or crimson cones, which appear in 

 June, resembling clusters of beautiful fruit. The larch is 

 greatly preferable to any of the firs or spruces for the enclos- 

 ures of our dwellings, because its foliage is deciduous, and 

 falls from the tree when it is no longer wanted for purposes 

 of shade. Whatever may be said in favor of evergreens as 

 winter ornaments to the landscape, and as screens for the 

 northern boundaries of an estate, they are almost without 

 exception inferior, to be planted near our windows, to any 

 tree with deciduous foliage. Let us even restore to their 

 ancient places, in front of our houses, the Lombard y poplars, 

 which, in compensation for their unsightly appearance in 



