Ml 
CONIFEI.E. — THE LARIX, OR LARCH TREE. 
Larix europaa. 
and profitable vegetation. In summer time, 
it is delightful to witness the lively grassy- 
green hue of this tree, contrasted with the 
expanses of iron-coloured heath, which may be 
generally seen associated with it, and which 
apparently bid defiance to the inroads of the 
cultivator. 
Excepting the oak, and Scotch pine, no tree 
suited to the climate of Britain has proved 
itself of more general use. It is a fast grow- 
ing tree, not scrupulous as to where it is 
situated, and, though soon attaining to matu- 
rity, its wood is strong, tough, and imperish- 
able. Hence it is found to be a good substitute 
for the oak in ship-building. Throughout the 
sea-port towns of Russia, it is in constant de- 
mand, for the purpose of constructing line-of- 
battle ships ; and during the last twenty years, 
it has been frequently used in Scotland, in the 
building of brigs and frigates. It has been 
found to resist the effects of the extreme 
changes of climate, and, that most trying of 
all tests — the alternate exposure to air and 
water. It is found, again, to be of great ser- 
vice in the formation of railways, as supports 
to the rails, and as wood pavement, the former 
purpose being likely to absorb almost all the 
full-grown trees now existing in this country. 
In a smaller way, it is used for scaffolding- 
poles, ladders, pipes, shingles to cover the roof's 
of houses, vine props, posts for fencing, beams, 
lintels, joists, mill axles, and as hop-poles. 
But, whilst it is preparing itself for such 
useful purposes in commerce, &c, the great 
work which it accomplishes as a fertilizer of 
waste land, renders it an object particularly 
worthy of being introduced in all barren and 
unprofitable districts. That a tree should thus 
carry fertility along with it, and that at the 
same time there should be still so much space 
throughout Britain, upon which it is not 
allowed to operate, can be only accounted for 
by the fact, that its effects in this respect are 
not generally known. Be this as it may, we 
know from experience, that a better agent for 
subjugating tracts of heath land cannot be. 
When planted, so as that the branches touch 
one another, the air during summer is excluded 
to that degree, that the heath, and whatever 
coarse herbage may be upon the land is des- 
troyed ; and when the trees are thinned, so as 
to admit sufficient air to the surface, it is soon 
clad with certain species of delicate grasses, 
known to botanists as of the genera Festuca, 
Cynosurus, Agrostis, Poa, &c. This fact 
was first noted and acted upon by the Duke of 
Athol ; but the practice has since been im- 
proved by Mr. Gorrie, of Annat Gardens, 
Perthshire, who, with his relative, Mr. A. 
Gorrie, of Holkham, stand pre-eminent as in- 
dividuals who have paid the closest practical 
attention to the Larch in all its bearings. The 
former gentleman recommends the seeds of 
Poa nemoralis to be scattered over the 
ground after removing the first thinnings, as 
that grass, he says, " wonderfully improves the 
pasturage." 
Pictorially considered, the Larch is deficient. 
It is without grandeur ; and though it may be 
seen occasionally assuming an irregular and 
even noble outline, such a character belongs 
not to the species. It will, however, continue to 
