LARCH. 23 



Trent, where this wood is of singular use, 

 when there is heat sufficiently fierce and 

 strong to penetrate it forcibly. 



It is known that the larch timber will re- 

 sist water in a still stronger degree than it is 

 able to endure the fire, as when employed 

 under water, it remains almost to eternity 

 without rotting. The piles of this timber on 

 which the houses of Venice were built many 

 hundred years ago, are still found as fresh as 

 when first put in. Stakes of it have been 

 tried in the decoys of Lincolnshire, which, 

 between wind and water, have already worn 

 out two or three sets of oak stakes, and do 

 not yet discover any symptoms of decay. 



Dr. Pallas, in his survey of the Russian 

 dominions in Asia, observed several tumuli 

 in Kamtschatka, reared at a period so remote, 

 that none of the present inhabitants had any 

 tradition respecting their origin. The plat- 

 form was covered by larch wood, over which 

 the mound of earth was raised ; and the wood 

 was found to be uncorrupted. 



It is said that planks of larch are superior 

 to those of oak for many purposes in ship- 

 building. At Archangel, ships of the line 

 are built of this timber ; and at Venice it is 

 also employed in naval architecture, especi- 

 ally in the lighter parts of the upper works, 



c 4 



