198 FOREST TREES. 
best. There appears to be little if any ground for a 
distinction. The Larch was originally introduced 
into Great Britain from the Tyrol and the neighbor- 
ing mountains of Switzerland, and most of the seed 
of commerce still comes from these and adjacent 
countries. The Russian Larch, from the north of 
Russia and Siberia, is said to be a distinct variety ;_it 
was introduced in Scotland by the Duke of Athol on 
trial, and found to be of little value. 
As has previously been remarked, a considerable 
part of even the best Larch seed sold in market is 
usually worthless. Whether this arises from its being 
partially gathered from too young trees, or from a 
general habit of abortion in fructification, I am 
unable to determine. Young Larches in this coun- 
try often produce cones, but as far as my observation 
extends, the seed is uniformly abortive. Larch seed 
is sometimes spoiled by the application of too great 
cheat to force the cones to open and discharge their 
seeds. The seeds retain their vitality but a few months 
after leaving the cones, and probably old seed is some- 
times mixed with fresh, Larch seed is sometimes 
advertised as “good,” forty per cent of which is war- 
ranted to grow. Loudon says the cultivators of 
France and Germany prefer seed from the Valais of 
Switzerland. Seed from the Tyrol is sold in Scot- 
land at a higher price than that produced there. 
The attention of persons in the United States, 
interested in tree planting, has lately been turned to 
the Larch, and it is to be hoped that it will ere long 
be generally and extensively cultivated. 
