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TREATISE 



Chapter XII. 

 The L a R I X, or LARCH TREE. 



H E Larch tree is propagated from feeds ; but the proper 

 -* way to procure thefe feeds good, is not generally known, 

 at leaft I am certain it is very rarely attended to. The common 

 method is, to gather their cones in the autumn ; and having 

 half-roafted them in a kiln, a ftove, or on a hearth before the 

 fire, then fplitting the cones, and picking out the feeds with a 

 knife or other fharp inftrument, they with difficulty get part of 

 them, though, by this pradtice, many of the plumped and beft 

 ripened feeds are bruifed. I proceeded in this way myfelf for 

 feveral years, without fuccefs fuitable to the labour, and ex- 

 pence., I fowed the feeds, with attention, in different foils and 

 fituations, and repeated a variety of experiments, but flill had 

 thin crops in proportion to the quantity of feeds, till at laft I 

 difcovered my error: I fhall therefore, from experience, direct 

 a method, by obferving which, thefe feeds may be procured as 

 good, and the plants be raifed in the fame abundance, and with 

 the fame eafe, as the common kinds of Fir and Pine. 



I FOUND, that tho' the cones of the Larch tree are at their full 

 fize in auttimn, the greateft part of the feeds they contain are not 

 then arrived near their maturity, and that they ripen hanging on 

 the trees during even the coldefl winter months. Thefe feeds are 

 inclofed in fo hard and thick a covering, that the fevereft feafons 



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