LAECH. 



77 



Norway eastward through Russia and Siberia, of in- 

 ferior size, may be styled the Eiu^opean Hyperbo- 

 rean. Korth America, like the old world, is said to 

 possess a temperate and h}^oerborean species. The 

 first, Black Larch (L. pendula), more generally ex- 

 tending along the longitudinal parallel of the United 

 States; the other. Red Larch (L. microcarpa), along 

 that of Low er Canada and Labrador. We have seen 

 the American temperate attain 18 inches in diame- 

 ter in Scotland, but it is much inferior in figm*e and 

 growth, and also cleanness of timber, to the Appe- 

 nine or Em'opean temperate, being covered with knots 

 and protuberances. Though rough, the timber is 

 said to be of excellent quality. 



It is now upwards of 80 years since the larch, so 

 common in Britain, was brought from the Appenines 

 to Strath-Tay. The rapidity of its growth and strik- 

 ing novelty of appearance, assisted by the influence 

 of the family of Athole (to a female of which some 

 say we owe its first introduction), soon attracted ge- 

 neral attention : it quickly spread over the neigh- 

 bouring country, and was planted in every variety of 

 soil and situation, from the unfitness of which, in 

 most places of the low country, it is already fast de- 

 caying. About 40 years ago it began to be planted 

 in many parts of Britain. It is now introduced into 

 almost every new^ plantation in the two islands, and 



