t 

 276 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Although the wood of the white pine is undoubteclly supe- 

 rior to the Scotch for all purposes where a soft, light, easily 

 worked, clear wood is demanded, the latter has qualities so 

 desirable that its cultivation for economic purposes would be 

 of great value in this State, especially when it is remembered, 

 as I have before remarked, that it will grow rapidly in situa- 

 tions where the white pine cannot flourish. 



The rapidity of its growth in all situations, and its economic 

 value, make the Scotch pine the most valuable tree farmers 

 can plant for screens and wind-breaks about their fields and 

 buildings, and for this purpose it is recommended in place of 

 the more generally planted Norway spruce, which, although 

 of rapid growth, in its young state, does not promise, in our 

 climate at least, to fulfil the hopes which were formed in 

 regard to it. The Scotch pine is being so extensively planted 

 in Europe that it is propagated in immense quantities, and at 

 low rates. Plants one foot high can be delivered in any part 

 of this State for from forty to fifty dollars the ten thousand. 



There is no tree capable of producing so large an amount 

 of such valuable timber in so short a time as the European 

 larch (Larix Eurojiea, DO.), in countries where its culti- 

 vation is possible. A native of high elevations in Northern 

 and Central Europe, and always growing on poor, gravelly 

 and well-drained soil, it is not surprising that when planted 

 under exactly opposite conditions, as is often the case, it does 

 not become a valuable tree. The rocky, well-drained hill- 

 sides so common in Massachusetts, are admirably suited to the 

 cultivation of the larch; and there is but little laud within 

 the limits of the State too poor or too exposed to produce a 

 valuable crop of timber, if planted with this tree. 



The European larch has always been a favorite for orna- 

 mental planting here, and has shown itself well adapted to 

 our climate. I cannot discover when this tree was first planted 

 in Massachusetts, but in the eastern part of the State speci- 

 mens, in open situations, are abundant, sixty feet high and 

 five feet in girth three feet from the ground. The largest 

 specimen of the European larch in Bartram's Botanic Garden, 

 near Philadelphia, probably the first ever sent to America, 

 when examined by Mr. Meehan,* over twenty years ago, 



* The American Hand-book of Ornamental Trees. Thomas Meehan. 



