78 



QUALITIES OF THE LARCH. 



ancient chateaus of France^ were almost always 

 constructed^ — I mean those inner parts^ where 

 wood was needful. The colour is a pale cedar 

 red ; sometimes elegantly varied. It is capa- 

 ble of a high finish, and carves well. No 

 insect will touch it for food or residence^ on 

 account of its bitter resinous flavour ; and it is 

 said that it resists water for ages^ as also fire 

 itself for a long time.^ On panels of larch^ 

 the pictures of the best Flemish and Italian 

 masters are painted ; and to this^ their preser- 

 vation is^ no doubt^ greatly owing. 



It is a remarkable fact^ indeed/' said 



* On this subject, however, doctors disagree surpris- 

 ingly. Under the article Larch, in Useful Knoicledge^ 

 by the Rev. W. Bingley, it is said, that the very combustible 

 nature of this wood renders it unfit for building pur- 

 poses; whilst, in the treatise on timber trQe^^m Entertaming 

 Knowledge y it is stated, that larch is nearly proof not only 

 against water, but against fire ! 



