42 



THE LARCH, 



ject in stating them being merely to draw his atten- 

 tion to a question, the speedy determination of 

 which is of very considerable importance. If it be 

 true that the fir we now generally cultivate is in 

 reality of a spurious and inferior breed, whether ori- 

 ginating in Canada or at home, no time should be 

 lost in exterminating it from our nurseries 



THE LARCH. 



The tree most generally found in our fir-planta- 

 tions, next to the Scots fir, is the Larch. Unlike 

 tlie rest of its tribe with which we are familiar, this 

 tree casts all its leaves every winter. These are of a 

 beautiful light green, and give the tree a very lively 

 appearance, especially when in contrast with the 

 darker and somewhat melancholy hue of the Scots fir. 

 The blossoms are of a fine purple tint, and appear 

 early in spring. The figure of the larch is ta- 

 pering, and has something of the formality which 

 belongs more or less to all the pine tribe. It was 



* So long ago as 1811, the late eminent Mr George Don 

 of Forfar pointed out tlie great superiority of a particular varie- 

 ty of the Scots-lir, which he distinguished by the name of 

 horizontal variety, from the disposition of its branches. — Me- 

 moirs of Cakd. Her/, Soc^ voi. i. p. 124. 



