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Europe. It is similar to our native balsam (p. 79) and possesses 

 medicinal qualities. Its use, however, is more or less confined to 

 veterinary practice. A substance called Briancon Manna or Manna 

 of the Larch exudes from the leaves in summer. It is sweet and 

 was formerly used in medicine. Ethyl alcohol may be obtained by 

 distillation of the wood. : 



The next trees ahead are 



Larix leptolepis, the Japanese Larch 



This tree attains a height of 80 feet and more in Japan and is 

 regarded as one of the handsomest and most rapidly growing of 

 the genus. It occurs there on the slopes of high volcanic moun- 

 tains at elevations of 4000 to 6000 feet. The wood is hard and 

 durable and is used there for general construction purposes. In 

 this country it is perhaps the best of the larches for a lawn 

 specimen. 



The Japanese Larch, as already pointed out, is distinguished 

 from the European kind by its more prominent whitish lines on 

 the under side of the leaves which give the foliage a bluish-green 

 tint. Furthermore, the cone scales are broader and bent at their 

 tips. 



Just north of these tall Japanese larches are two young trees. 

 They are 



Larix eurolepis, the Dunkeld Larch 



This is a hybrid that first appeared in England as a cross 

 between the common Europsan and the Japanese Larches. It 

 possesses characters of both its parents and seems to be more 

 vigorous than either of them. It is not well known in this 

 country yet. 



The three evergreens on the western edge of this Section are 

 Red Cedars (p. 112). 



General Discussion 



There are about a dozen different kinds of larch, all inhabitants 

 of the colder regions and higher altitudes of the Northern Hemis- 

 phere. They are all deciduous conifers and only one species, Larix 



