Barren flowers in an ovate, sessile, deciduous catkin. Calyx cup-shaped, sessile, containing the receptacle to which the stamens are attached; anthers yellow. Fertile flowers in an elongated, cylindrical, sessile catkin; scale acute, coloured, a mid-rib rising from between the two embryos at its base. Cones oblong-ovate, about one inch in length, brown when ripe. Scales persistent, roundish, slightly waved at the margin. A tall pyramidal tree, deciduous, blossoming in March or April.

66 The larch has hung all its tassels forth." MRS. HEMANS.

To include the larch, which is neither indigenous to our island, nor long naturalized among us, in a series of papers on the trees of England, may, to one uninformed on the subject, at first appear to be erroneous. Yet among the whole range of our sylva, it would be difficult to specify any tree in the present day so extensively cultivated in our land, or one which yields a more abundant and valuable supply of useful timber. Like the Scotch fir, of which we have already spoken, the larch is classed among the natural order Abietine, a family equally distinguished by the peculiar and yet similar appearance of its members; the strength, durability, and general utility of the timber they afford; the resinous secretions they exude; the extensive and wide-spread regions which they cover; and their remarkable adaptation to those exposed and elevated situations which, but for these valuable timber trees,

would appear as useless blanks on the face of creation.

In this numerous and universally diffused family, the larch holds no mean station. It is inferior only to the pine in the utility of its products, or the extent of country which it inhabits; and in many repects is greatly its superior. "It bears," says Sang, "the ascendancy over the Scotch pine in the following important circumstances: it brings double the price, at least, per measurable foot; it will arrive at a useful timber size in one-half or a third part of the time in general which the fir requires; and, above all, the timber of the larch at thirty or forty years old, when placed in soil and climate adapted to the production of perfect timber, is in every respect superior to that of the fir at one hundred years old."

The larch is the only member of this family which sheds its leaves annually.. Hence it may be considered as the connecting link between evergreen and deciduous trees: like the latter, it loses its foliage in autumn, and renews it in the spring, while its woody cones, resinous secretions, erect and spiry trunk, and pendulous or horizontal frond-like branches, identify it with the former. It differs from the Scotch fir in the arrangement of its leaves, which, instead of being inserted spirally in pairs upon the branches, are disposed in groups round a central bud; the cones, too, of the larch are erect, those of the fir drooping.

There are but two species of the larch -the one indigenous to Europe, the other to America: of the former there are several varieties, though the difference between them is very trifling. It is found only in the south of Europe, on the Alps, the Apennines, the Carpathian mountains, and those in the south of Russia. The altitude at which it will grow, and even produce valuable timber, is far beyond that of any other tree cultivated among us. On this point the statements of the duke of Athol, the most extensive and experienced of British larch growers, is very strong. "One of the greatest advantages of planting larch, is derived from its peculiar property of thriving in very elevated situations. The Scotch pine thrives at an elevation below nine hundred feet, but the larch extends to sixteen hundred feet above the sea, and it may ascend higher. This is an important fact in a

national point of view; much of the mountain land of Great Britain, which is at present worthless, may grow timber to supply her navy and merchant shipping, without at all interfering with the land which produces her cereal crops, or even her fine pasture land." From the experience of forty-three years, he states his decided opinion, that at an height of from twelve hundred to sixteen hundred feet, an acre in seventy years will grow four hundred trees, yielding an average of at least one load of timber each.

The average height to which the larch attains is from eighty to one hundred feet, though it frequently exceeds one hundred feet. The trunk is straight and tapering, and its diameter small in proportion to its length. The branches are long, and spread at first horizontally, though they afterwards droop, so that the tree acquires a conical shape. The leaves, which are short and linear, spread from the sheath which incloses them, and are sometimes recurved at the tip: they are of a very light green, and grow in clustered tufts round a central bud. The catkins appear at the same time with the leaves; those containing the stamens are globular, and vary in colour, being white, yellow, pink, red, or dark, or light yellow, in the different species. The red or pink flowered larch is that most commonly planted. The cones also vary in colour, from white to red, while young; when full grown they acquire a brownish tinge, and are about one inch in length. The scales are roundish, and rather notched at the margin.

Although the larch will grow in almost any soil and situation, the value and durability of its timber entirely depends on its being planted in coarse gravelly soil, and in a dry and clear atmosphere, not too closely together. On rich ground, and in sheltered situations, though it grows rapidly, and its external appearance is no way affected, it is attacked and soon destroyed by the rot. This disease commences at the root, and spreads rapidly upwards through the centre of the tree, enlarging by degrees, till the interior of the trunk becomes tough and spongy, and ultimately hollow within, like a pump. A peat, clay, sandy, or wet soil has generally been found to produce the rot; yet, even in such situations, though the timber produced is utterly unfit for naval use, yet if cut down just as the rot is beginning to appear, it will be useful for many minor purposes.

Matthew, who has given much attention to the subject, observes, that sound rock or gravel, even though nearly bare of vegetable mould, and some of the stones of enormous size, are favourable to the growth of the larch, as well as rough ground, as chasms, or ravines, and steep and rugged hills. In such situations the loose soil allows the roots free passage, and the moisture they imbibe from rain or the mountain streamlets percolates through them without stagnating; the dryness of the surface not producing cold by evaporation, sooner heats in spring, while the elevated and exposed situation refreshes and nourishes the plant during the heat of summer. A clear and dry atmosphere is also essentially necessary to the prosperity of the larch. It is a well established fact in vegetable physiology, that the leaves of every plant perform the very important office of elaborating and rendering fit for nutrition the sap absorbed at the roots, by exposing it to the influence of light and air, and exhaling through the innumerable, though invisible, stomata, or pores, with which they are endowed, those noxious or useless particles which may have been imbibed. To the vegetable creation the leaves discharge the same necessary office as the lungs to the animal creation, which receive the blood which has circulated through the human system, purify it from any impurities it may have contracted, and restore it to the heart, thence again to perform its vital functions. The leaves of the larch are remarkably fine and minute, and therefore present but little surface for the action of the solar ray, and have comparatively few of the stomata; hence, if the tree is planted where the moisture of the atmosphere would even diminish or clog this evaporation, or where the fertility of the soil supplies nourishment faster, or in a larger quantity, than_the leaves can digest, it must suffer. Professor de Candolle, therefore, observes: "Larches generally thrive on the declivities of mountains, seldom on flat places; because on declivities there is always a little dampness in the earth, descending from the surface above; and at the same time, the trees, on account of the inequality of their bases, have more space at their tops, and are better exposed to the light; whereas flat places are often too dry, and the trees being all of the same height, overshadow each other. Declivities, and, in general, ele

vated countries, suit larches best, because the action of the light is more intense there than in low countries." An inland situation, too, all writers on the subject agree in recommending. The sea, as the professor observes, produces dampness in the air from the moisture it exhales, while the saline particles deposited on every object within its sphere, would clog the stomata, and retard evaporation. The duke of Athol, whose experience was his only guide, has published the results of his forty years' observations, and these completely corroborate the theory here alluded to.

TANJORE IN 1806.

THE reader will be interested by the following letter from Dr. Buchanan to the Rev. John Newton, written from Tanjore. Most of the particulars were printed by Dr. Buchanan in his " Christian Researches in Asia," but they are here given in a graphic and concentrated form.

Tanjore, 1st Sept. 1806.

MY DEAR SIR-It is seldom that any thing occurs in India worthy of being communicated to you, but the subject of a letter from this place will, I doubt not, be interesting.

It is now about four months since I left Bengal, having purposed to travel from Calcutta to Cape Comerin by land. I had conceived the design of this journey some years ago: being desirous of obtaining a more distinct knowledge of the present state of the Hindoos and Mohammedans in various parts of India; also of the Protestant and Romish missions in the Deccan; of the ancient Syrian Christians in Travancore; and of the Jews at Cochin. I have now nearly accomplished my tour, and though some principal objects remain to be explored, I have already obtained such valuable information on many important subjects, as amply compensates for the labour and peril of so long a journey.

When in the province of Orissa, I visited the celebrated Hindoo temple of Juggernaut. One of the students of the college of Fort William has now the superintendence of the pagoda, and is the collector of the tax on pilgrims. I passed about ten days in making observations on it. Juggernaut appears to me to be the chief seat of Moloch in the whole earth,

and the centre of his dominion in the present age. The number of his worshippers is computed by hundreds of thousands. Four thousand pilgrims entered the gates with me on the day previous to the grand festival of the Rutt Jattra, at Juggernaut. I first saw human victims devote themselves to death, by falling under the wheels of the moving tower in which the idol is placed. There I saw the place of sculls, called Golgotha, where the dogs and vultures are ever seen, expecting their daily corpse. There I beheld the obscene worship of Moloch in open day, while a great multitude, like that in the Revelation, uttered their voices, not in hosannas, but in yells of applause at the view of the horrid shape, and at the actions of the high priest of infamy, who is mounted with it on the throne. There is nothing harmonious in the praise of Moloch's worshippers; but rather a hissing approbation. Exhausted and disgusted with the daily horror of the scene, I at length hastened away from the place with some trepidation. Three days afterwards, when I was on the banks of the Chilka Lake, I beheld the towers of Juggernaut afar off: while I viewed them, its abominations came to my remembrance, and I cursed it in the name of the church of God. How different is that valley of Hinnom, from the scene which now presents itself to me here among the Christian churches of Tanjore! Here there is becoming dress, humane affections, and rational converse. Here the feeble-minded Hindoo exhibits the Christian virtues in a vigour which greatly surprised me. Here Christ is glorified. And this is the scene which now prompts me to write to you.

But I ought first to inform you, that I have visited other places where the gospel is preached to the Hindoos.

I had intended to have been at Vellore

on the 8th of July, which was two days before the massacre; but the providence of God retarded my steps. I was visited by a fever, which confined me for some time in a caravansera.

Lord Bentinck, the governor of Madras, desired I would suggest what might occur to me in my progress through the Deccan, as most likely to ameliorate the state of the newly-converted Christians. In some places they have suffered persecution. This persecution has, however, been thus far useful

that it shows the serious change of mind in the Hindoo who can bear it: for it is often alleged in India, that the Hindoo can never be so much attached to Christ as the Brahmin is to his idol. When I was at Tranquebar, I visited the church built by the pious Ziegenbalg. His body lies on one side of the altar, and that of Grundler on the other. Above are the epitaphs of both, written in Latin, and engraved on plates of brass. The church was consecrated in 1718, and Ziegenbalg and Grundler both died within two years after; I saw also the dwelling house of Ziegenbalg, which is yet in the state he left it. In the lower apartment are yet kept the registers of the church. In them I found the name of the first heathen baptized by Ziegenbalg, and recorded by himself in 1707. I also saw old men whose fathers had seen Ziegenbalg. I first heard in Ziegenbalg's church, and from the pulpit where he preached, the gospel published to the Hindoos in their own tongue. On that occasion they sung the 100th Psalm to Luther's tune. To me it was an affecting scene. Tranquebar, however, is not what it was. It is only the classic ground of the gospel. European infidelity has eaten out the truth like a canker. A remnant indeed is left; but the glory has departed to Tanjore.

When I entered the province of Tanjore, the Christians came out of the villages to meet me; and here, first, I heard the name of Swartz pronounced by a Hindoo. When I arrived at the capital, I waited on Mr. Kolhoff, the successor of Mr. Swartz. Here, also, I found two other missionaries, Rev. Dr. John, and Mr. Horst, who were on a visit to Mr. Kollhoff. They told me that the company's resident, Captain Blackburne, had apartments ready for my reception, and that he had despatched a letter to me (which missed me) some days before, informing me, that the rajah of Tranjore was desirous of seeing me. I asked the missionaries how the rajah came to hear of me. They said, that the resident had got a copy of my Memoir, and of Mitchell's Essay.

On the same day I paid my respects to the resident, who informed me, that the rajah had appointed next day at twelve to receive me. On our entrance (the resident accompanied me to the palace) the rajah arose from his sofa, and advancing some steps, took me by the hand,

and seated me on his right. After a short conversation, he led me up stairs to a magnificent saloon, fitted up in the English and Indian taste, and embellished with the portraits of Savajee, his great ancestor, and the other kings of Tanjore. Immediately on entering, he led me up to the portrait of the late Mr. Swartz. Finding that I liked music, he entertained me with the vina, and the harp; and while the music played, he discoursed of that good man, and of his present happiness in a heavenly state.

I then addressed the rajah in the presence of the resident, and thanked him, in the name of the Christians in Europe, and in Bengal, for his kindness to the late Mr. Swartz, and to his successors; and particularly for his recent acts of benevolence to the Christians residing within the province of Tanjore. He has erected a chuttrum, or college for Hindoos, Mussulmans, and Christians. Provision is made for the instruction of fifty Christian children.

Having heard of the fame of the ancient Shanscrit and Mahratta library of the kings of Tanjore, I requested his excellency would present a catalogue of its volumes to the college of Fort William. The Brahmins had formerly remon strated against this being done; but the rajah was now pleased to order a copy to be made out, and I have it already in my possession. It is voluminous, written in the Mahratta character; for that is the language of the Tanjore court.

When I was about to take leave, the rajah, to my great surprise, presented to me a miniature of himself, elegantly set, about six inches in length; and also four pieces of gold cloth. In the evening he sent his band of music, of twelve men, namely, six performers on the vina, and six singers, to the house of the resident, where I dined. They sung and played "God save the king," with variations, in just measure, applying the Mahratta words to the Maha rajah, their own most excellent prince.

Next day I sat some hours with the missionaries, consulting on the general state of the mission. They want help. Their vineyard is increased, and their labourers are decreased. They have hitherto had no supply from Germany in room of Swartz, Joenicke, and Gericke, and have no prospect of a supply. It appears to me that the glory has de