200 WOODS OF COMMEECE 



above and below, and parenchyma with simple pits in the middle ; 

 resin-ducts smaller and fewer than in Pinus ; knots irregularly 

 distributed ; annual rings wide, defined by a broad dark zone of 

 autumn-wood, finely sinuous. Its durability rendered Larch a 

 favourite wood in ancient Rome. Csesar styles it '^ lignum igni 

 impenetrabile." Augustus built his forum with it ; Tiberius 

 brought this timber for the repair of bridges from the forests of 

 Rhsetia and preserved one tree, which was 120 feet long and 2 feet 

 in diameter throughout, as a curiosity ; and Vitruvius attributes 

 the decay of the buildings erected in Borne at the time to the 

 disuse of Larch on the exhaustion of the forests near the city. 



Much of Venice is built on Larch piles, which, after ages of 

 exposure to alternate wet and drought, are still sound. Being of 

 rapid growth, Larch is much used for scaffold-poles, ladders, pit- 

 props, sleepers, and fencing ; and, being more free from knots 

 than Spruce, is much prized by carpenters and wheelwrights. In 

 ship-building, though its durability is in its favour, its shrinking 

 is against it ; but it is classed with Douglas, Huon, Kauri, and 

 Pitch Pines, in the eighth-line of Lloyd's Register. Larch is not 

 largely imported ; that from Italy beuxg small, crooked, and coarse- 

 grained, that from Poland rather larger and straighter, and that 

 from Northern Russia the largest. When growing in the plains 

 the Larch has proved so susceptible to the fatal attacks of the 

 fungus Peziza Willkommii that it seems likely to be replaced as an 

 object of cultivation by the Douglas Spruce. 



Larch, American, Black, or Red. See Tamarack. 



Lareh, Chinese or Gclden {Pseudoldrioc Kcempferi Gord. : Order 

 Ahietinece). China. Height 120—130 ft. Very heavy and hard. 



Larch, Himalayan {Ldrix OriffitMi Hook. fil.). Eastern 

 Himalayas. Height 40—60 ft. Of small dimensions, white, 

 soft, easily spHt, but durable. Of Httle value. 



Larch, Japanese {L. leptoUpis Gord.). Central mountains of 

 Japan. "Toga, Kara-matsu, Fuji-matsu." Height 60—80 ft. or 

 more ; diam. 1|— 4 ft. Heart red-brown, heavy, hard, and strong ; 

 but Httle used, as it grows at altitudes of 5,000 or 6,000 ft. This 

 species is, however, now being largely cultivated in Europe. 



Larch, Western, See Tamarack, Western. 



Lasrin [AlUzzia odoratissima Benth. ==Mim6sa odoratissima 

 Roxb. : Order Leguminosce). India, Burma, and Ceylon. Sinh, 

 '' Hurihi." This species and A. Lehleh constitute the East Indian 

 Walnut of commerce. [See Walnut, East Indian.] W 42—60. 

 Dark brown with darker streaks, very hard, seasoning and polishing 

 well, and fairly durable. Used for wheels, oil-mills and furniture, 

 suitable for carving. 



