JAPANESE LARCH AND THE NEW DISEASE. II9 



of the leading shoots, with a resultant wavy stem-growth. It is, 

 further, inclined to form secondary branches between the annual 

 whorls (on the stem), and an abundance of twigs on the main 

 branches. It produces a fairly dense foliage, the leaves being 

 of a normal length, of a thinnish texture, and of a light green 

 colour. It is probably too early yet to say much about the 

 technical form of the stem, but it seems, at present, to occupy 

 a position only secondary to the flake-barked type. 



The flake-barked type, while not so abundant as the former, 

 forms quite a distinctive feature in many areas. The flakes or 

 plates that characterise this type have a certain resemblance to 

 the plates that form on some sycamores and Scots pines. The 

 size and shape of these vary, some being orbicular and an inch 

 or more across, while others are oblong and vary in size according 

 to the age of the tree. These plates are exfoliated, naturally, to 

 a certain extent, but undoubtedly the process is hastened by 

 insectivorous birds in their search for sustenance. The cork 

 portion of the bark is thus thinner than in the case of the fissure- 

 barked type, but it is apparently quite an efficient protective 

 covering. This characteristic is in evidence quite early in the 

 life of the tree, and extends, in many cases, well up into the 

 crowns. The branch-formation is much opener than is the 

 case in the former type, the main branches spread well out, and 

 there is an almost entire absence of secondary branches and 

 twigs. A great proportion of the foliage in this type is produced 

 from the spur shoots of the main branches, and these spurs do 

 not readily elongate into twigs. The leaves are thicker, if 

 shorter, and have more of the typical Japanese larch "bloom" 

 about them, being darker green in colour. The technical form 

 of the stem, as suggested above, is evidently superior, as in 

 most specimens it is of a definite upright habit. This is due, 

 probably, to a certain extent, to its being less liable to lose its 

 main leader. 



The smooth-barked type is apparently not so common as 

 either of the others, but it forms a fair proportion of the crop. 

 It might be said to include specimens of varying degrees of 

 smoothness and also of colouring. It is evident that the cork 

 cambium is not deep-seated, and that very little in the shape of 

 "dead " bark is produced. Although smooth bark is apparent 

 on numbers of the suppressed stems, it is by no means confined 

 to this class, and can be found among the dominated and 



