Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/87

LAP. tian turpentine, that Is of;ConsIder- able use in medicine. Its large branches produce small sweetish grains, resembling sugar ; and ■wh'ch are known under the name of manna, from their possessing similar purgative properties with that drug. The larch is likewise an excel- lent nurse to the more tender trees ; as i*is furnished with several small, p'.iant branches abounding with leaves ; whicii, from iheir flexibili- ty, readily yield to the contiguous trees, admit rain more easily than Scotch firs, and receive no injury from inclement snowy winters ; when the branches of the latter are frequently stunted, and the trees themselv^^s totally destroyed. Beside the mandold uses to which this inestimable tree is subservient, we shall mention a few additional fa(5ls, chiefly extrafted from foreign writers, with the contident hope of promoting its more general cul- ture. — From the inner rind or bark of the larch, the Russians manu- fafture fine white gloves, not in- ferior to those made of the most delicate chamois, while they are stronger, cooler, and more plea- sant for wearing in the summer. — A gumniy matter, partaking of the properties of animal glue, and vegetable mucilage, is obtained by a curious process from the sap of this tree ; aiid which greatly re- sembles the gum arabic or Senegal, though it is of a brown colour ; it is known in Russia by the name of Orenherg Gum. P.llas informs us, that the untutored natives cut a hole at one siJe of the trunk, near its root, then burn the wood to the very pith, by applying combustible materials in consequence of the heat thu^ g aerated, the circulating jiTSdullary juice descends iu drops^ L A R [69 which concrete into a transparent gum, forming various fanciful con- figurations. — In countries where the. larch-tree abounds, its firm and compact wood (a cubic foot of which, or 144 solid inches, weighs 41 pounds, and exceeds that of the fir in the proportion of 8 to 7), adbrds a very superior charcoal : this, likewise, in quantity, mea- sured one-third more than that burnt from the fir-tree ; and its specific gravity, on weighing and balancing it with the latter, was as S to 5. It is, however, remark- able, that the larch contains more ■ aqueous ingredients than the fir- tree, insomuch that five measures ot the oily water colle£ted during the combustion of the former, yielded, on evaporation, only 3 ounces of pitch ; whereas four and a lialf measures of the latter, pro- duced 4 ounces. — Buildings ereiSt- ■ ed of larch wood, have been ob- served to remain sound for 200 . years ; as it is eminently adapted to resist the effedts of air and wa- ter, while it is exempt from the depredations of the worm : hence it is peculiarly excellent for shin- gles ; but, on account of its com- bustible nature, it would be ad- visable to prepare them in the manner direded by Mr. Knox, vol. ii. p, 283, and foil. — Lastly, the bark and other parts of lliis profitable tref", have been found, by experiment, to be proper sub- stitutes for that of the oak. LARK, or Alauda, L. a genus of birds comjn-ising twenty-eight species, of which the most remark- able are : 1. The arvemis, or Co.mmon Sky-lakk; a long-lived, and hardy bird, mounting high,, raising its notes as it soars, and lowering theru as it descends. It is remarkable," V 3 that