236 Trees of S'witzerland. 



is little occasion for planting trees and shrubs, either exotic or 

 indigenous. However, near Berne, large plantations of the 

 Pinus ^Strobus have been raised from seed ; and it is said that this 

 wood, at 25 years old, is much more advantageous to the planter 

 than the common pine of the country. Forests of larch and 

 fir are also sown, and for this purpose there are seedsmen for 

 selling indigenous seeds. One of these, M. Thomas, at Bex 

 (canton de Vaud), sells tree seeds by wholesale ; and strangers 

 may apply confidently to him for excellent seeds, especially of 

 the larch, of which he sells a great quantity annually. This is 

 particularly important for English planters, as it appears from 

 the correspondence between Mr. Stephens and M. De Candolle, 

 in the Bibl. Univ. de Geneve, Feb. 1835, and the Qiiart. Journ. 

 of Agric. for 1835 (vol. v. p. 403.), that the larch seeds grown 

 in Switzerland are much better for sowing in British plantations 

 than seeds ripened in Britain. 



Some trees are in general cultivation in Switzerland both for 

 their fruits and for their wood. Of these the common walnut 

 (tJuglans regia) grows in the valleys, and in sheltered situations 

 about 2000 ft. up the mountains. It attains the height of the 

 largest trees, and is much admired for its beauty and its ma- 

 jestic habit of growth. Unfortunately, the introduction of the 

 colza (the rapeseed plant), for making oil, has driven the 

 walnut trees grown for that purpose from the plains ; and there 

 are already many parts of western Switzerland where much 

 fewer trees are planted than are cut down. It is, however, 

 consoling to reflect that, though the value of walnut oil has di- 

 minished, that of the timber of the walnut tree has increased ; 

 and it is evident that this wood, from its beauty, will be always 

 valuable for cabinet-makers, &c. Cherry trees are cultivated to 

 a great extent for their fruit, which is used in making kirsch- 

 wasser, a liquor which becomes excellent when it gets old. The 

 mulberry is cultivated only on the southern side of the Alps ; 

 for example, in the canton of Tessin, of which the agriculture, 

 the people, and the geographical situation are all alike Italian. 

 Throughout the whole extent of Switzerland, up to about 3800 ft. 

 above the level of the sea, we find pear and apple orchards, 

 from which a great quantity of cider is made, though it is of an 

 inferior quality. The proportion of harsh and sweet fruits is 

 not properly calculated, and the best mode of making the liquid 

 is not properly attended to. It is true that the common drink 

 of the country is wine, which forms an important article in Swiss 

 agriculture, particularly in low and sheltered regions. 



The best vineyards, as to quality, are those of Valais and 

 Tessin : they produce a sweet wine, often with a muscat flavour, 

 analogous to some of the wines of Italy, the fault of which is, 

 that they do not keep well. The vineyards which border the 



