THE SPRUCE. 



43 



first imported into Britain not quite two centuries 

 ago, from some of the mountainous districts in Italy, 

 where it is very plentiful. It is said also to abound 

 in many of the southern parts of Russia. The first 

 larches known in Scotland were a couple of seedling 

 plants sent from London by the Duke of Atholl in 

 1727, and for some time kept in a greenhouse at 

 Dunkeld. One of these original larches, now an 

 enormous tree, still remains in the pleasure-grounds 

 there, close by the ducal palace, and may be regard- 

 ed as the progenitor of all the larches in North Bri- 

 tain. 



Among the Tyrolese and Dalmatian Alps, as we 

 are told, the larch grows to a stupendous height. 

 There are said to be beams of it, in some of the 

 houses in Venice, 120 feet long. The trees from 

 which these w^ere cut must have been at least 140 

 feet high. In many plantations in Perthshire 

 larches are to be found of 100 feet in height, and of 

 proportionable girth. The larch is a very quick 

 grower, and the timber of it is good, though cut 

 young. When planted on very rich soil, the heart 

 of the tree on being cut is sometimes found hollow. 

 Of this I have seen several examples. There is but 

 one sort cultivated in our plantations. 



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