CONIFERS. THE LARIX, OR LARCH TREE. 
347 
Larch, its branches being thicker and longer, 
and its cones considerably larger. Plants 
5 feet high, are 2s. 6d. each (1846). 
L. e. pendvla repens. — A variety of the 
foregoing, with less of the drooping character 
in it. It is propagated in the London nurse- 
ries and sold at 4.*. per dozen (1846). 
L. e. sibirica( Siberian Larch). — A variety 
sent by Professor Pallas to the Hackney nur- 
sery about the beginning of the present cen- 
tury, and since discovered in the Duke of 
Atliol's plantations amongst plants raised from 
seeds received from Archangel. Hence, in 
some catalogues, it bears the name of L. 
europcea archangelica. It is common on 
the sides of the Ural Mountains, and extends 
noi'thwards through Siberia and Kamtschatka 
to the Pacific Ocean. In the south of Siberia, 
it assumes the dimensions of the European 
tree. In budding and leafing, it is con- 
siderably in advance of the common tree, or 
any other of its varieties ; but its catkins do 
not expand till late in the season. It has 
been tried in Scotland as a timber tree ; but 
it has with justice given place to L. europcea, 
which grows with greater rapidity, and in a 
shape infinitely more serviceable as respects 
its timber. Plants, in pots, are at the high 
price of Is. each (1846). 
L. e. dahurica (Dahurian Larch). — A 
worthless variety discovered in Dahuria, flat- 
headed, irregular, and stunted : many of the 
same sort might be selected from plantations 
in England. A scrubby, unsightly plant of 
the same kind stands on the property of Lord 
Stafford, near Cossey village. Plants are 4d. 
each (1846). 
L. e. laxa (loose-headed European Larch). 
— Not seen by the writer, but described by 
Lawson as " more horizontal and less crowded 
in its branches, with a darker green, or some- 
what glaucous colour of foliage," than the 
common tree. Plants, \\ foot, are 4s. per 
dozen (1846). 
L. e. compacta (compact-branched Larch). 
— A very distinct variety, discovered by Mr. 
G-orrie of Annat Gardens, a gentleman who 
has bestowed more attention upon the Larch 
than any other person in Britain. In habit, 
t his plant is represented as being conical in its 
outline, like the common larch, with brittle, 
horizontal branches, erect towards the point. 
The bark is thick and rugged. Cones nearly 
as large as those of the common tree, with 
blunter points, equally persistent, and with 
scales remarkably smooth. The leaves are of 
a light grassy-green colour, and so long as 
they continue fresh, the tree is very orna- 
mental. Of its qualities as a timber tree, no 
favourable opinion has been hazarded. Plants, 
2 feet high, are 4s. per dozen (1846). 
L. e. intermedia (intermediate Larch), 
belongs to L. e. sibirica, though some bota- 
nists think there is an appearance exhibited 
by it entitling it to be considered distinct. It 
awakes at the very first approach of spring, 
and consequently suffers from after frosts. 
Plants, 2 feet, are 4s. per dozen (1846). 
Other varieties of the common Larch have 
been selected by the curious, and even the 
minute differences in the flowers have given 
rise to two individuals, namely, L. e. jiore 
rubro, with red flowers, and reddish-brown 
cones ; and L. e. jiore alba with whitish 
flowers, and cones of a very light colour. 
L. e. Killermaniana is also to be found in 
catalogues at 7s. 6d. each. 
Larix americana, Michaux (American 
Larch). — Leaves short, clustered, deciduous, 
flexible. Cones oblong, erect, green in spring 
time, and becoming brown or violet coloured, 
from |in. to fin. long, the scales gradually 
diminishing from the base to the top. 
A native of cold mountainous districts in 
Vermont, New Hampshire, and the district of 
Maine. Near Lake St. John, and the Lakes 
of Misstassin, it forms deep and unbroken 
forests ; and its extreme limits, towards the 
south, are New Jersey and Pennsylvania, 
where it is only found in the coldest and 
gloomiest exposures. Again, in Lower Jersey 
and in the neighbourhood of New York, it is 
very scarce, and seen occasionally intermingled 
with the white cedar. When grown in Ame- 
rica, the wood is reckoned equal to that of the 
common larch as grown in this country ; but 
in Britain the American tree does not succeed 
well, and has fallen into the rank of an orna- 
mental tree only. Plants, 6 feet high, are Is. 
each (1846). 
Varieties. L. a. rubra (red American 
Larch). — A native of North America, of a 
middle size, very much resembling in its out- 
line the common European larch, from which, 
however, it is readily distinguished by its 
small purplish cones. The tree has a smooth 
brown bark, with horizontal, or somewhat 
drooping branches ; and the leaves are shorter 
and narrower than those of the common tree. 
It has been tried along with other coniferous 
trees in the plantations at Blair Athol, but 
found to be remarkably deficient for econo- 
mical purposes. What little wood it produces, 
however, is very close-grained and heavy. 
Plants, 2 feet high, are Is. 6d. each (1846). I 
L. a. pendula (pendulous-branched, or 
black Larch). — A native of North America, 
where it grows on mountainous districts 
where the soil is free, and on low meadow 
lands, in rich clay, or deep sandy loams. This 
is the most graceful of all the larches, the 
leading shoot frequently assuming its pen- 
dulous outline at the height of 20 feet from 
the ground ; and as Lindley observes, " it 
