CHAP. CXIII.

coni'feraj. za'rix.

2871

“ In the Construction of Buildmgs, larch is valuable only for the grosser parts,as beams, lintels, joists, couples. For the finer boarded part, it is so muchdisposed to warp, and so difficult to be worked, as generally to preclude use.It is, however, asserted that, if larch be seasoned by standing two years withthe bark stripped from the bole before being cut down, the timber becomesmanageable for the finer house-work.”

The Durability of the Larch, when alternately exposed to Water and Air, wasproved by an experiment made in the river Thames, at the suggestion of theDuke of Athol. “ Posts,” Sir Thomas Dick Lauder observes, “ of equalthickness and strength, some of larch and others of oak, were driven downfacing the river wall, where they were alternately covered with water by theflow of the tide, and left dry by its fall. This species of alternation is themost trying of all circumstances for the endurance of timber; and, accordingly,the oaken posts decayed, and were twice renewed, in the course of a veryfew years; whilst those which were made of larch remained altogether un-changed. “We had ourselves,” says Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, “occasion toerect a foot-bridge to a pleasure walk over a sunk road, and this we ordered tobe constructed of two long stretching beams, covered transversely with larchplanks. In 14 or 15 years afterwards, we discovered symptoms of decay inthe bridge, and ordered the carpenter to new plank it; but, when he came tocarry our directions into execution, he discovered that the whole planks werequite sound, with the exception of three; and that these three, which wererotten almost to powder, were Scotch fir planks, which had been taken ina hurry, at the time the bridge was built, to supply a deficiency in theoriginal number of the larch planks.” (Laud. Gilp., i. p. 154.)

In Mill-work, and especially for mill axles, where oak only used formerlyto be employed, larch has been substituted by the Duke of Athol, in 1806,with the best effect. In the winter of that year, in cutting up an old decayedmill wheel, His Grace found those parts of the water cogs which had beenrepaired with larch in 1786, though black on the surface, on the hatchet beingapplied, as sound and fresh as when put up.

In Railroads, it is found to form excellent sleepers, and so great was thedemand for it in 1836 and 1837, for this purpose, that it could scarcely besupplied even with the extensive plantations in Scotland.

As Hop Poles and Slakes for Plants, no wood whatever equals the larch.For these purposes, it ought to be planted close, so as to be drawn up withtrunks of the requisite degree of slenderness; for, when planted thin, thestems are apt to become disproportionately thick below, as Cobbett describesto be the case with the sweet, chestnut. (See p. 1996.) We have seen thelarch, at 3 ft. apart, drawn up to the height of between 40 ft. and 50 ft., withclear straight stems, admirably adapted for hop-poles, and for poles for orna-mental purposes in gardens; such as staking roses, forming arches and rusticwork for training creepers, espaliers for fruit trees, &c. Even the young trees,which have been allowed to attain the height of 4 ft. or 5 ft. in nursery lines,make excellent props for the more delicate plants; and, when used with thebark on, will last, for an indefinite period.

As Guards for single Trees and small Groups, the larch possesses the advan-tages of strength to resist the rubbing of cattle; of durability at the surfaceof the ground, where it is alternately wet and dry; and of economy, because,when the bark is kept on, the expense of painting or Kyanising is unnecessary.

As live and as dead Fences, the larch possesses peculiar properties, bearingthe shears apparently as well as the spruce. (See p. 2306.) Sir ThomasDick Lauder once saw a very pretty larch fence in a gentleman’s pleasure-ground near Loch Lomond. “ The trees were planted at equal distancesfrom each other; and, being clipped, were half cut through towards the top,and bent down over each other. In many instances, the top shoot of theone had insinuated itself into that adjacent to it, so as to have become cor-porally united to it; and, strange as it may seem, we actually found one topthat had so inserted itself, which, having been rather deeply cut originally by

7 o 3