400 



THE LARCH. 



windows, and masts of ships : it resists the worm. 

 Being driven into the ground, it is almost petri- 

 fied, and will support an incredible weight ; 

 which, and for its property of long resisting fire, 

 makes Vitruvius wish they had greater plenty of 

 it at Rome to make joists of ; for that, being at- 

 tempted with fire, it is long in taking hold, grow- 

 ing only black without. It makes everlasting 

 spouts and pent-houses, which need neither pitch 

 nor painting to preserve them; also excellent 

 pales, posts, rails, pediments, and props for vines ; 

 to these add the palettes on which our painters 

 blend their colours. Before the use of canvas and 

 bed-tick, it formed the tables on which the great 

 Raphael and the famous artists of the last age 

 eternized their skill." 



In Evelyn's time the value of British-grown 

 Larch had not been tested ; for though he says 

 6( We grow it of seeds," it is clear from what he 

 afterwards says that it was of uncommon occur- 

 rence. That it fiourishes with us, a tree of good 

 stature, not long since to be seen about Chelms- 

 ford, in Essex, sufficiently reproaches our not 

 cultivating so useful a material for many pur- 

 poses, when lasting and substantial timber is 

 required." 



About the middle of the last century some 

 trees, planted by the Duke of Athol, were cut 

 down, and the timber was found to be superior 

 to that of any other of the Fir-tribe. A further 

 acquaintance with the tree confirmed this opinion, 

 and Loudon tells us that it has been more ex- 

 tensively planted in Britain, particularly since 

 the commencement of the present century, than 

 any other timber-tree whatever, not even except- 



