194 FOREST TREES. 
ments: of husbandry; for the timbers of buildings 
and for mill work. It makes excellent ties for rail- 
roads; and the demand for it for this purpose in 
Great Britain has caused a heavy draft upon the 
extensive plantations of Scotland. For hop poles 
and grape stakes it is better than any other tree. 
‘Small trees are said to last longest with the bark 
on. Larch is as strong as Oak, and more durable; 
and is considered one of the best kinds of timber for 
ship building. According to an estimate in Loudon’s 
Arboretum, ten acres of Larch will furnish as great an 
amount of ship timber as seventy-five acres of Oak. 
Venice turpentine, and Manna de Briancon are pro- 
duced by the Larch. The bark also is used for tanning. 
From the testimony cited above, it appears that 
there is every encouragement for extensively planting 
the Larch in this country. Although for some yearsit 
will thrive almost anywhere, and become large enough 
to be useful for farm purposes, yet in some soils and 
situations it does not ultimately produce valuable 
timber. Only time and experience can give full 
information in this respect. In the meantime some- 
thing may be gathered from European writers. A 
damp atmosphere is said not to suit the Larch; it 
does not succeed near the sea, or in the immediate 
neighborhood of lakes and rivers. It may hence be 
inferred that the dry atmosphere of the western plains 
will suit it well. The experience of the Duke of 
Athol showed that “elevated situations are better for 
the Larch than low ones—declivities better than flats.” 
There are in all parts of the country river bluffs, 
