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measurement of the trees in Dunkeld, that this in a great measure continues even till a period of 
age beyond that which they have as yet attained: for one hundred and twenty feet in fifty years 
gives an average of nearly two feet and a half in height for each year of their growth.* 
According to Mr. Harte, it grows slowly the first four years; but in twenty years, will exceed 
a Fir tree both in height and circumference that is double its age. Nor is there any reason, he 
adds, for doubting whether this tree will thrive in England: for some Larches about forty years ago 
came to full size and perfection near Chelmsford in Essex; and Mr. Miller mentions others of 
a considerable growth at Wimbledon in Surry, which produced a large quantity of cones every 
year.f This was said at least as far back as the year 1770: and Mr. Evelyn speaks of a Larch at 
Chelmsford. 
The Bishop of Landaff informs us; that from many experiments made by himself, and collected 
from others, he finds the annual increase in circumference of the Larch, at six feet from the ground, 
to be one inch and an half on an average of several years; and that this inference has been drawn 
from the actual admeasurement of Larches in different parts of England and Scotland, and of dif¬ 
ferent ages from ten years old to fifty.J 
In making a plantation of Larch, the thinnings may be applied to a variety of useful purposes, 
whilst they are yet of a small size. In six, eight, or ten years, according to soil and circumstances, 
the trees will have attained a size sufficient to be made into hay-rakes. They grow so straight, and 
the wood is so light, strong and durable, as to be peculiarly calculated for this purpose; and from 
its shrinking less than any other wood, these rakes will remain longer firm than those made from 
any other. About two feet cut off from the root end will form the rake-head; and five feet above 
that, with a very little taken off from the thickness of the under part, will form the handle. No 
wood is more proper for the teeth of the rake, than some of the red wood of an older tree, because it 
is not only tough, but little liable either to split or shrink. The bow may be made of Ash, or of the 
laurel leaved sweet-scented Willow, (Salix pentandra ) which is still better. Nothing is so fit for 
shafts to hoes; for it is nearly as strong, and much more durable than Ash. Handles for brushes, 
brooms, scythes, &c. would occasion a vast consumption of these small spars. 
Light, neat and strong chairs, for rush bottoms, might be made of Larch wood at this age. 
Nothing will answer better for hop-poles; for one set of these would outlast two or three sets of 
Ash. Hurdles, spars and gates, may be made of it, both lighter and more durable than of any 
other wood: and when the trees are of a size sufficient, they may be split down for cart shafts; and 
in mining countries they might be employed as posts for supporting the roofs of the mines. 
The small tops cut off in making these various works, would furnish a neat, elegant, cheap and 
durable kind of railing, to be put upon the top of low walls, especially for preventing light sheep 
from over-leaping them. One end might be let into the coping, whether of sod, clay, or lime; and 
the other end received into a slip of sawn Larch wood, with holes bored through it to receive their 
points. From the straightness of the wood, this kind of rail would be very neat without much 
expense. In the same manner hen-coops, crates for packing glass, &c. might be made of those 
materials. 
But one of the most extensive and beneficial uses of this kind of small wood, is for the purpose 
of inclosing. These spars, when the root is thick enough, may be slit up the middle by a saw. and 
cut into lengths of five or six feet; or if smaller they may be employed whole. As they are always 
* Anderson, vol. III. p.403. p Harte, Essay I. p. 151. 
% Agricult. Survey of Westmoreland, Prelim. Observations. 
/ 
