THE COMMON LAECH. 



507 



ruginous, and in which water does not stagnate in winter, 

 even though nearly bare of vegetable mould, especially 

 steep slopes, and where the air is not too arid, is favourable 

 to the growth of Larch ;" this refers to the straths or valleys 

 of the large rivers in Scotland, in their passage through 

 the Alpine country where, he remarks, " they are occupied 

 for several hundred feet of perpendicular altitude up the 

 slope, by gravel, (composed of the debris,) which covers 

 the primitive strata to a considerable depth." The third 

 " comprises dry soils and sound brown loam ; soils well 

 adapted for red clover and wheat, not too rich, and which 

 will bear cattle in winter, are generally congenial to Larch." 

 This applies to lower districts either with a flat or undu- 

 lating surface. The fourth, " All very rough ground, par- 

 ticularly ravines, where the soil is neither soft sand nor too 

 wet, also the sides of the channels of rapid rivulets.'" Such 

 are the denes and gills of the northern parts of England 

 and south of Scotland, in which the Larch is always found 

 to thrive more luxuriantly and to produce finer timber than 

 upon a flat and level surface. The second class consists 

 of soils and subsoils where the Larch takes dry-rot, the 

 first of which are " situations (steep slopes excepted) with 

 cold till subsoil, nearly impervious to water. This is most 

 fatal to the Larch where moorish dead sand alone, or mix- 

 ed with peat, occupies the surface." Firm retentive clays, 

 if well surface-drained, we find become much ameliorated 

 and will bring Larch to a large and valuable size, before 

 any indication of heart-rot commences. Under this head, 

 he also remarks, that " in general, soils whose surface as- 

 sumes the appearance of honeycomb in time of frost, owing 

 to the great quantity of water imbibed by the soil, will 

 not produce large or sound Larch. More than half the 

 low country of Scotland is soil of this description." 2d. 



