366 



THE planter's GUIDE. 



b J those who constantly rave about the uncommon beauty 

 of the Larch, and be held as grievously sinning against 

 correct taste. Should it be so, 1 shall console myself by 

 reflecting, that if on this subject I do err, I err at least 

 in good company, having Gilpin and the painters to keep 

 me in countenance.""'^ 



It is with the view only of procuring early leaf that I 

 have sometimes transplanted the Larch, from eighteen to 

 thirty feet high, and about three in circumference, eighteen 

 inches from the ground ; I mean, of course, the white or 

 common Larch (Larix pyramidalis.)\ But its roots, like 

 those of its hardy relative the Scotch Pine, are not dis- 

 posed to become fibrous. Neither is it, like that tree, at 

 all patient of removal ; or perhaps I may have been more 

 negligent in preparing it than subjects of greater conse- 

 quence. I cannot therefore say, that my success has been 

 very extraordinary, although I mean to subject it to 

 further experiment. To those who happen to have pro- 

 per subjects of the black Larch, (Z. pendula) I should 

 recommend it for removal in preference to the white, as it 

 is a much hardier tree, and incomparably a more rapid 

 grower ; and it has been extensively raised in Britain 

 within the last threescore years. 



THE BIECH. 



Although there is no tree of greater lightness and 

 elegance than our native Birch, {Betula alba,) it is rather 

 more fitted for woods and shrubberies than for the open 

 park. There is a striking variety, with pendulous branches, 

 named the weeping Birch. Besides these, three American 

 species have been added to our catalogue, which promise 



* Note XXIII. 



t Note XXIV. 



