USES OF THE LARCH 



77 



the water, which it seems to love^ is a favourite 

 object with me. I only fear that some of those 

 strong westerly winds^ which have already 

 given it a leading attitude^ will^ one day^ send 

 it into the water beneath. I believe it is from 

 this tree that the commodity called Venice 

 turpentine is procured by incision ; I do not, 

 however^ wdsh the matter to be proved by an 

 operation." 



The young operator looked a solemn acqui- 

 escence in the injunction. 



I then proceeded to state a few particulars, 

 respecting the uses of larch. 



As oak and chestnut were the timber usu- 

 ally employed for grand buildings in Britain^ 

 in former ages ; so larch^ on the continent, 

 was, and is stilly most in request. Of this 

 almost incorruptible wood^ the Gothic halls 

 and castles of Italy and Germany, and the 



