SOILS FOR 



THE LARCH, 



The Larch is a native of the Swifs and Italian 

 Alps. Its introdu&ion into this country has been 

 a mod fortunate circumftance. * When we con- 

 fider its general ufefulnefs, the facility with which 

 it may be propagated, and that it will not only 

 grow, but fpeedily reach a large fize, in almoft 

 any foil or fituation ; we cannot, but with feel- 

 ings of gratitude, think on the Noble Duke f 

 who, about half a century ago, firft planted it on 

 the Grampians ! The larch may now be confi- 

 dered as naturalized in Scotland, being planted 



univerfally, 



the English plants being generally spread abroad, the horn- 

 beam came to be considered more as a shrub than a forest 

 tree. But, since the time Mr Miller wrote, it has been 

 more raised from seeds, and is now more generally used as 

 a forest tree. 



* The following anecdote concerning the introduction of 

 the Larch into Scotland, is related by Dr Walker. Some 

 larches ' were sent down from London, by the then Duke 

 of Athol, in the year 1727, along with orange trees and 

 e other greenhouse plants. They were kept with these for 

 * two or three years, in pots, in a greenhouse, as rare exotic 

 ' trees ; but, when their hardy nature came to be known, 

 4 they were planted out in the garden. ' One or two of these 

 original larches still remain at Dunkeld House, ia the state 

 of lofty trees. 



The late DUKE OF ATHOI. 



