986 PRACTICE OF GARDENING. PART 111. 



black larch (P. pciulula) and red larch (P. microcarpa), natives of America, by some considered distinct 

 species; the timber of both of which is said to be harder than that of the common white larch. As 

 these trees are only to be met with in the nurseries, originated by layers, they cannot be recommended to 

 be planted as timber-trees. There are, however, -a few large specimens at Uunkeld and other places ; 

 and from these the trees will probably soon be propagated by seed, and a practical estimate be formed of 

 their merits. There are some trees of the red larch on the Athol estates, but they do not contain one 

 third as many cubic feet of timber as the white larch at the same age. The wood is so ponderous that it 

 will scarcely swim on water. (Hart. Trans, iv. 416.) . 



7056. Soil and site. The larch will grow and attain a large size in every soil and situation, excepting in 

 standing water ; but a certain elevation of surface, or coldness of climate and inferiority of soil, is abso- 

 lutely necessary to produce the timber in perfection. The quality of the timber of all trees is more or less 

 affected by climate and soil ; but that of the resinous tribe particularly so. We pointed out several 

 instances in 1806. (Treatise on Country Residences, ii.) Sang mentions a number as having occurred since 

 1812 (Plant. Kal. 59.), and observes generally that he has " known it in many places make the most rapid 

 progress for 30 or 35 years, and though there was no external signs of disorder, yet, when it was felled, 

 the wood had begun to rot in the hearts of the trees ; so that there was scarcely a sound tree over a large 

 extent of ground ; yet here, the oak, the chestnut, the elm, and the ash, amongst which the larch 

 had been used as a nurse, are not only in the utmost vigor, but their wood is perfectly sound. Some 

 larches in a similar soil and situation had attained seven feet each, and were quite hollow a good way 

 upwards." 



7057. Insects. The Coccus laricea, and the others mentioned as inhabiting the common pine. 



7058. The Norway fir, or common spruce fir, (P. Abies, L. (Lam. pin. 73. t. 25.) 

 Sapin, Fr. ; Fichte, or Tanne, Ger. ; Abiete, Ital.) is the first species of that section of 

 pinns in which the leaves are solitary. It is one of the tallest of European trees, attains 

 from 100 to 150 feet in height, with a very straight but not thick trunk, and throwing 

 out its spreading frond-like branches so as to form an elegant narrow cone of vivid green. 

 It is a native of the north of Europe, and particularly abundant, as the name imports, 

 in Norway : its timber being the white deal received from that country and the Baltic. 

 It is supposed to have been introduced about 1548, and has been, and still is, more 

 cultivated than any species of the genus, excepting the common pine and the larch. 

 Some of the finest specimens are in Harefield Park, at Blenheim, and at Temple 

 Newsham. 



7059. Use. The timber is inferior to that of the common pine in durability and bulk ; and being often 

 knotty, is not proportionally strong for horizontal bearings with that timber. White Norway deal, how- 

 ever, is used for a great variety of purposes in building ; and the entire trees are more prized than any 

 other for masts for small crafts, for spars both for marine purposes and on land. What constitutes the 

 value of this fir is, that its timber is equally durable at any age, like that of the larch ; and what renders 

 it peculiarly adapted for masts, spars, scaffolding, poles, &c. is its habit of almost in every case, whether 

 standing single or detached, growing perfectly erect and straight. The tree may be cut for rods, stakes, 

 and scythe or other implement handles, when the trunk at the base is not more than two inches in dia- 

 meter, and the bark being kept on it, it will prove almost as durable as the larch. Pontey says, that poles 

 of spruce are so far inferior to those of the larch, that they are more apt to crack when exposed whole to 

 the influence of the sun and air; but in all other respects it is nearly equal to it, and in straightness sur- 

 passes it. The tree is peculiarly valuable as a nurse, from being evergreen, and closely covered with 

 branches, by which radiating heat is retained ; from its conical shape and rigid stem, by which it does 

 not suffocate or whip the adjoining trees ; from its being valuable at whatever age it is thinned out ; and 

 from its being an excellent shelter for the most valuable game. It will not, however, grow in situations 

 where the common pine and larch will flourish. It is also an excellent hedge plant for shelter, but is 

 deficient in point of defence and durability. By incision, it yields a resin, from which, by various pre- 

 parations, turpentine and Burgundy pitch are formed. The tops or sprouts (spniytsen, Ger.) give the flavor 

 to what is called spruce-beer. 



7060. Varieties and species. Linnams has five varieties of P. abies ; but the principal are, the white 

 (P. alba} (Lam. pin. 39. t 26.), the red (P. rubra) (Lam. pin. 43. t. 28.), and the black (P. nigra). (Lam. 

 pin. 41. t. 27.) These are all natives of N. America, and their timber, which is white, possesses nearly 

 the same properties as that of the European species. The white spruce rises only to 40 or 45 feet, with 

 pale bluish-green leaves. The black spruce is reckoned the most durable of the tribe. " In America, the 

 black spruce is used for knees in ship-building, where neither oak nor black larch can be easily obtained : 

 these knees are not prepared from two diverging branches, as in the oak ; but from a portion of the base 

 of the trunk connected with one of the largest diverging roots. The timber of the red is universally pre- 

 ferred throughout the United States for sail-yards, and indeed imported for this purpose into Liverpool 

 from Nova Scotia, where it is also used for constructing casks for salted fish. It is chiefly from the decoc- 

 tion in water of young shoots of the black, and not exclusively from those of the white spruce, as sup- 

 posed by Lambert, that the celebrated beer is prepared by fermentation, with a due proportion of sugar 

 or molasses. The essence of spruce of the dealers is prepared by evaporating this decoction to the con- 

 sistence of honey." 



7061. Soil and site. Pontey says it grows rapidly on every description of soil, from a very stiff loam, 

 and such as possess a very considerable degree of humidity, to a very dry sand, provided the situation be 

 not very much exposed. Sang says it luxuriates much in deep low situations : in shallow soils and ex- 

 posed places it never succeeds. It " should never be planted for the sake of its wood, excepting in masses 

 or groves by itself ; otherwise its timber is so coarse and knotty, that it is hardly worth working : but in 

 the mass way, if planted thick, and properly pruned and thinned afterwards, it may be trained to tall clean 

 timber." 



7062. Insects. TJie Coccus abtetcs, and occasionally the others which infest the common pine. 



7063. Tlie silver fir (P. Pkea) (Lam. pin. 46. t. 30.) (Jig. 671. a) is a lofty ever- 

 green tree, forming a cone broader at the base, in proportion to its height, than the 

 spruce, and displaying a more stable and majestic figure than any of the other firs. 

 It is more thinly covered with frond-like branches than the spruce, and differs from it 

 also in regard to the frondlets, which, when they grow old, and begin to decay, do not 

 droop down as in that tree, but remain rigid till the last. The upper surface of the 

 leaves is of a fine vivid green, and their under surface has two white lines running length- 

 wise on each side of the midrib, giving the leaves that silvery look, whence has arisen 

 the name. It flowers in May, and the cones are ripe in December. It is a native 

 of the Alps and Germany, was known here in 1603, and has btcn a good deal planted 



