THE PLx\NTEli's GUIDE. 



365 



as can be said for it, in its early youth, before it acquire 

 that scragginess and formality which so strikingly mark 

 it at a more advanced period. In fact, I haye great dif- 

 ficulty in persuading myself that the three noble and 

 most picturesque trees which are seen growing at Dunkeld, 

 near the house, raised from real Alpine seed, can ever 

 belong to the same species. Instead of the formal appear- 

 ance of the ordinary Larch, those majestic Pines assume 

 the easy sweep of stem, and the spreading ramification of 

 the Pinaster and horizontal Fir, in their grandest and 

 most pleasing forms; wliile there is, besides, a sweeping and 

 negligent pendency in the spray, which neither of those 

 trees exhibits. As there are, therefore, the strongest 

 reasons for believing that the Larch has degenerated in 

 Britain, in both its wood and external appearance, I 

 should advise that we have frequent recourse to the Alps 

 for our seed.'" 



In respect to the appearance of the tree, I take the 

 liberty to assert, how adverse soever it may be to the opinion 

 of many, that although the value of the Larch is high and 

 unquestionable to the British planter, yet, as we see it 

 here, it has no claim to be held as an ornament to our 

 parks and pleasure-grounds, except for its early leaf, 

 and its forming a good opposition tint in autumn. What- 

 ever comes out a full fortnight, and sometimes three weeks, 

 sooner than the generality of trees, must, however, have 

 considerable value in this climate ; and on that account 

 the Larch and the Thorn, sprinkled here and there in the 

 vicinity of the mansion, and indeed over the park in 

 general, are calculated during the spring to produce a 

 very cheerful efi'ect. In these sentiments, I fear, I shall 

 be considered as barbarous and gothic, in no small degree, 



* Note XXII. 



