4.2, NATURAL REPRODUCTION OF FORESTS. 
authors maintain that the larch is stimulated into action by a 
mild temperature early in the season, and that its annual growth 
commences at once. From my observations of the nature and 
growth of the larch, I am inclined to differ from this opinion. 
The process of growth in larch is slow and is generally retarded 
until after midsummer, about the end of June or beginning of 
July, when the active powers of growth become vigorous. In con- 
trast to this, take as an example the Scots fir, or any other pine. 
Their growth is almost completed before larch begins to grow, 
and the latter continues to grow in mild seasons until late in the 
autumn, which is in no way favourable to its constitution, as it is 
liable to be injured by frost before the young wood is properly 
ripened. 
In regard to the Spruce, its hardihood, rapidity of growth, and 
suitability to almost any kind of soil, have never been seriously 
questioned, but it can only be seen in its pristine grandeur when 
growing in a free, moist soil, Spruce fir is specially adapted for 
growing in low, moist situations, It has no tap roots, as a rule, 
like the Scots fir and other pines. Its roots do not penetrate 
deep into the soil, but spread near the surface. Its foliage is 
rather dense, which renders it top heavy, and in exposed situa- 
tions it cannot resist the force of strong gales so well as most 
other forest trees. Soils of a moist nature encourage the growth 
of a tough coating of herbage, which is not only unfavourable to 
the germination of spruce fir seed, but to that of all pines. Then 
at intervals most species of trees are liable to be unproductive, or 
their seeds unfertile in some seasons, and in the case of spruce 
woods it has not yet been found a profitable matter to renovate 
them by natural reproduction in this country. Still, it can be 
carried out by the same means as larch and Scots fir. 
We shall now pass from the pine family with this remark, 
that with all the numerous introductions of conifers and other 
trees into Britain, we must not overlook those which have proved 
themselves so hardy in the past, as to resist the effects of the 
winter blasts of our climate in exposed situations. We must 
therefore look carefully after them, so as to ensure them from 
becoming extinct, as they are naturally the trees best adapted for 
planting upon the hills and bare wastes which cover so much of 
the surface of this country, and which are vastly improved by a 
clothing of our hardy forest trees. 
I shall next endeavour to apply the natural mode of reproduc- 
