LARIX, THE LARCH 125 



concave scales that are persistent after the fall of the seed, as in 

 the Spruces. 



Habitat. — South-eastern China. Abundant on the mountains to the 

 north of Foo-Chow, intermixed with Pinus sinensis. 



Introduced by the late Mr. Eobert Fortune, in 1846. 



The interest attached, to Abies Fortunei is almost purely scientific. In 

 its native country, its aspect is peculiar rather than handsome, and it is 

 only this peculiarity that would make the tree acceptable for British 

 gardens. The few plants raised from the seed sent home hy Mr. Fortune 

 have, however, generally failed; the only living one we know of is in 

 our Nursery at Coombe Wood ; it is a stunted bush only a few feet high, 



II.— LARIX (Tournefort) The Larch. 

 It is not easy to specify generic characters in the Larch, derived 

 from the organs of fructification alone, that shall clearly distinguish 

 it from the Fir; the flowers are almost identical in structure, 

 and the smaller cones differ but little except in shape and in 

 a few other minor particulars, a difference of degree rather than 

 of kind. In all the species, or so-called species, except one, the 

 scales of the cones are persistent after the fall of the seed, as 

 in the Spruce and Hemlock Firs, but in the Chinese Larch they 

 are deciduous, as in the Silver Firs, The cones attain maturity 

 in one season. In their vegetation, however, the Larches possess 

 characters manifestly distinct from the Firs, especially in the leaves, 

 which are " clustered or fasciculated in consequence of the universal 

 non-developement of lateral branches, so that the leaves themselves 

 make their appearance without a perceptible central axis." * More- 

 over they are deciduous and soft in texture, while in the Firs the 

 leaves are evergreen and stiff. The Larches are northern trees 

 whose area of distribution coincides pretty nearly with that of the 

 Spruce Firs; they are, therefore, all hardy in Great Britain. 



The timber afforded by the Larches is of excellent quality. The 

 wood of the common or European species is said to be more durable 

 than that of any of the Fir and Pine tribe, and is in universal 

 request ; the wood of the American or Black Larch is not surpassed 

 in strength and durability by that of any Coniferous tree growing in 

 the same region, and is preferred in Canada and the adjoining States 

 for railway sleepers, &c. Excellent charcoal is made from the wood 

 of the European Larch ; Venice turpentine is procured from its resinous 

 * Pr, Lindley, in English Cyclopcedio, p. 12, 



