102 The Western Ponvologist and Gardener. 1872 



, A correspondent of ours from Whippany, N. J., went some two or three years since to 

 Newtown, Long Island, for the especia! purpose of investigating the facts in relation to 

 these two supposed varieties. He ascertained from unquestioned facts where the original 

 Newtown Pippin or apple tree stood, but where the tree of second variety stood, was not 

 known by any body. So pleased was he at finding where the one original tree stood, that 

 lie ofiered $230 towards erecting a monument to its memory. 



We think with all these facts before us that the distinction of green and yellow should be 

 discarded in describing this apple. 



Tbe European IiarcU.—Its Dnrabllity. 



Bt Prof. -James Mathews, Iowa AGRicrLTURAL College. 



"Ed. Pomologist and Gaudener : — I have for several years been giving considera- 

 ble attention to a matter which has been and is now agitating the public mind through- 

 out the whole We.st, and which in every aspect of the subject is one of very grave import- 

 ance. I allude to the cultivation of the European Larch, which is so strongly urged upon 

 the people by many who have had considerable experience in arborculture, and to whose 

 judgment in such matters I usually bow with the greatest deference. Certainly as an 

 ornamental tree, we have but few fiuer than the Tyrolese, or Europeon Larch; -and 

 ■whether its usefulness in this country will be equal in general pecuniary results to its 

 ■value in other and trans-atlantic portions of the world, where it grows so well both spon- 

 taneously and by cultivation, is what we are especially interested in knowing. Unfortu- 

 nately, but little light has been shed upon this niomentus proposition in our' country, 

 ■except what is drawn from analogy, or a supposition based upon its acknowledged worth 

 an foreign lauds. That it is extremely valuable eLswhere, isproven beyond a peradven- 

 ture; but we are not .sure yet, i.y any well authenticated experience in the United States, 

 that its wood when grown in our soil, and especially in the rich prairies of the West, "is 

 the most durai)le iu the world ! " This tree's durability seems to depend upon the resin- 

 ous matter or turpentiie it contains, and its peculiar texture. Were it not for these, I 

 jiresume it would have no claims upon pubhc attention for resisting exposure to water, 

 or the ordinary inclemency of the seasons. 



According to the accounts we have of this tree (Larix Europea) it undergoes great 

 changes by being grown in different climates, localities and soils. We find that in some 

 situations, its most Northern habitations, it only forms a low, trailing shrub; while in 

 its most favored home upon the Alpine Hills and other congenial locations, it grows to 

 -one hundred feet and upward in height. In a circular published by Mr. B. Y. Teas, on 

 this subject in 1869, he says : " In Savoj', according to a French writer, houses are built 

 of Larcli logs, squared and placed one upon another, in the style of our American log 

 louses. The heat of the sun melts the resin contained in the logs, and the structure thus 

 Tendered impervious to air and moisture, will last for centuries. In some parts of France 

 ■ liouses are now standing that have been built two hundred and fifty years, and still show 

 110 signs of decay ; the great amount of resinous matter rendering the wood imperisha- 

 ble, and on this account it will out last the Red Cedar. There seems to be well authenti- 

 cated instances in Europe iu which larch timber having Ticen in use one thousand years, 

 still remains sound." 



Now does the Larch contain this extraordinary resinous substance when grown in our 

 fertile prairies, without which it may for aught we kuow, be of no more utility thai! Cot- 

 tonwood or soft maple. I have been growing the European Larch in Iowa for seventeen 

 years. I have one tree in my grounds which is about forty-five feet high, and nearlj' fif- 

 teen inches in diameter, one foot from the ground. I have also many others of various 

 sizes, from fifteen to thirty feet high. It is a very rapid grower, in this respect all that 

 could be desired. 



I have been making such observations as I could, to discern if possible its crowning 

 qualities in other countries — that of durability, and I confess thus far without satisfactory 

 results. Having discovered in several instances causes for doubt in this respect, I con- 

 cluded in the spring of 1869 to make an experiment with a lot of young trees I had then 



