CONIFERS. 



91 



not entirely remove, the "Larch. Disease;" for, however contrary to 

 generally received opinion, I hold, that unless in the best and sweetest 

 soils, the most undulating and high altitudes, and where the purest 

 atmosphere prevails, even a healthy and perfectly sound plant would, 

 if not planted out under conditions congenial to it, soon become a 

 diseased tree. 



LarIX GriffitHII : Griffith's Larch Fir. 



This kind is merely an altered form of the European species, found 

 in Sikkim in India, where it sometimes is dwarfed to a large sprawling- 

 branched bush, while in other soils, altitudes, and localities, it is found 

 attaining heights of from thirty to sixty feet. It is of no economic 

 value for its timber, and but little use for ornament in this country. 



Larix LepTOLEPIS : The Japan Larch Fir. 



A botanical curiosity, sent to us from Japan ; where these 'cute 

 culturists can show it as a nice, medium-sized tree, from thirty to forty 

 feet, or a perfect pigmy in a lacquered box, or china flower pot, which 

 they term priceless, being, as they say, Sapins a deniers (Tor, (Golden 

 penny firs ;) and Mats nummularia, (Money pine ;) it is of no 

 economic value for its timber, and but little, if any, for its ornamental 

 qualities in the climate of Britain. 



LarIX OgCIDENTALIS : The Western Larch Fir. 



This is at best but a quasi-species of the prototype, found in ISTorth- 

 western regions, either a scrubby bush or a tall handsome tree, like the 

 common kind ; such varieties are the effects produced by the soil, 

 altitude, and climate, in which it may be grown, and in none of its 

 distinguishing characteristics does it differ from the European Larch 

 Fir. 



S.D. YI. PlNGUECER^ : The Wax Pine Tribe. 

 From Latin Pingais, fat or resinous, and Cerea, wax: which latter 

 is clearly from the Greek Kripog. The Hebrew, Sjn, cerce ; or Sanskrit, 



"^T^^ indkshada, are the terms for " wax," and the Hebrew 

 ?D£i'^D? P^'^9^fe; and Greek, Trax^c, Latin, ^:)2?2^7?m^, fat or fatness; inas- 

 much as their juices are richer and more waxy, or amber-like, than any 

 of the other S.D. of Pinacese : and, moreover, the species in this S.D. 

 are all more or less related in their ligneous tissues and juices, and 

 rich, ample, and massive foliage; though in their floral organs and modes 

 of fructification they are not so closely related to each other; yet, parti- 

 cularly in their wax or amber-like secretions, more or less specifically 

 distinct from the other genera of Coniferse. 



