F O R E S T - T R E E S. 81 



Most of the Larch trees we fee, thofe excepted tliat are fhel- 

 tered by higher plantations, decline much frorn the fouth-wefl 

 winds ; the great caufe of which is, not confulting their genius, 

 but unfldlfully pruning them. This plant, eflabliflied in a foil it 

 likes, (nor indeed is it nice in its choice) will make prodigious 

 fhoots ; thefe fhoots are extremely heavy and flexible when 

 young, which being the cafe, when any number of the fide- 

 branches are cut away, the length of the leading fhoot is increa- 

 fed, the body becomes flender, and the tree naturally bends with 

 its own weight, and grows obliquely ; nor in the Larch tree is 

 this to be redrefTed by any art, as nothing but reducing the 

 height in any tree can afFe6l a cure, and which, tho' to many is 

 an improvement, yet to this is certain deftru6lion : I there- 

 fore, from experience, advife, that not a fingle branch be taken 

 from this tree, except fuch as by accident may have been broken 

 or bruifed, till they are fifteen or fixteen feet high ; nor would 1 

 chufe any pruning at all, were it not to clear the furface of the 

 ground, fo as to admit the rays of the fun, to diffipate noxious va- 

 pours : But as this may fometimes be neceffary, when they have 

 arrived at the height mentioned, the lowed tire of branches may 

 then be cut off clofe and fmooth about the middle of October, the 

 following year a fecond tire, and the fucceeding a third. This 

 will be clearing the trunk to about four or five feet high, higher 

 than which they fhould never be pruned, to make them well pro- 

 portioned ftraight trees, capable of refifting the winds, which, 

 with this culture, they effecflually will ; befides, as they natu- 

 rally grow in a regular pyramidal form, their greateft beauty is 

 loft when divefted of their branches. 



This is a noble and valuable plant ; the bright. red blofioms.it 

 produces in the fpring, are both beautiful and fragrant, and the ' 



L 



