THE LARCH AND 1TS IMPORTANCE IN SWEDISH FOREST ECONOMY EXXV 
Siberian larch in Sweden 'see pp. 715—733). With this must be connected 
the map on page 702, showing the position of the sample plots and the pla- 
ces where special observations have been made concerning the Siberian larch. 
In section D are treated the variations and races of the Siberian 
larch. After mentioning on page 734 certain described forms as regards 
colour of cones and formation of branches, there is a discussion of the Polish 
larch variety, which is regarded by several writers as an intermediate form 
between the Siberian and the European larch. There are also some notes on 
surmised hybrids between the Siberian and the Dahurian larch (see CIESLAR, 465). 
Though the spontaneous distribution of the Siberian larch is very extensive, 
it is striking that it is not a matter of indifference from what place the seed 
is taken for cultivation in Sweden. BLOMQUIST (390), was the first writer who 
threw light on this point, in that he carried out comparative sowing experi- 
ments as early as 1879 in Finland with seed of Larix europaea from Riga 
and of Zarix sibirica from both Archangel and Nykyrka. This experiment 
had shown that the plants springing from Nykyrka seed developed best, next 
the plants from Archangel, while the Riga seed had given rise to the 
worst plants. 
In modern forest literature the Siberian larch is considered to be much 
straighter in the stem than the European larch. This, however, is not absolutely 
correct. If we compare it.with most stands of Tyrolean larch, such com- 
parison turns out to the advantage of the Siberian larch. If, on the other 
hand, we look closely at Table 16 with the distribution of the tree-classes 
among different sample plots, we shall find in the Siberian larch also a very 
varied, sometimes high percentage of (c) and c trees. Here, too, these varia- 
tions would seem to be a question of race. In Figs. 87 and 88 we find 
examples of groups and stands of this species of larch which have a pro- 
fusion of crooked individuals. 
Section E treats the sylvicultural properties of the Siberian larch, 
beginning with place of growth and climate. Owing to the occurrence of the 
Siberian larch in Siberia together with the pine, it appears that this species 
of larch prefers rather sandy and dry formations, even though it is grateful 
for a soil that contains a certain amount of humus. When dendrologists in 
Central Europe .consider that it requires specially good soil, this is due to the 
fact that they have found it growing slowly there; but this is purely a question 
of provenience. Siberian larch is a markedly northern type, which does not 
bear transplanting too far south. 
In the south of Sweden European larch seems, as a rule, to develop better 
than the Siberian larch, even though the latter is cultivated on fairly good 
ground. As several larch woods have been raised in a mixture with pine, 
it has been possible in some cases to institute direct comparison between the 
proved larch quality and the increment grades which are most commonly 
used for pine. Such a comparison shows that the Siberian larch is a fairly 
unexacting tree in Sweden, and that it grows well even in increment. grade 
0.4 in Maass's experience table. On the other hand the growth of the larch 
seems to be quite insignificant in increment grade o.2 and under. Like all 
kinds of trees, however, it is grateful for earth rich in mould, and there is 
no risk in planting Siberian larch on good ground, as even in such positions 
it shows no great propensity to put out too many branches: 
