226 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 
to say about ‘the Larch, from whence that useful 
drogue Agaric is gather’d. I reade of Beams of 
no less than 120 foot in length made out of this 
goodly Tree, which is of so strange a composi- 
tion that ’twill hardly ’burn, as Cesar found in a 
Castle he besieg’d built of it; yet the Coa/s thereof 
were held far better then any other for the melt- 
ing of Iron. That which now grows some where 
about Chelnsford in Essex, arriv’d to a flourishing, 
and ample Zree, does sufficiently reproach our 
negligence and want of industry.’ 
Under the encouragement of successive Dukes 
of Athole many millions of larches were planted 
on their Perthshire estates, and larch-planting 
became general throughout many parts of Britain 
during the present century. It was found to 
improve pasture in a remarkable degree, thus 
adding largely to the value of pasturage in moun- 
tain tracts, apart from the advantage accruing 
from the profit of its excellent, durable wood. 
Unfortunately, however, it was often planted 
on soils and situations unsuitable to its true re- 
quirements, and unfavourable for sound, vigorous 
growth. Indigenous to an alpine climate that 
jumps almost straight from winter into early 
