11G ON THE DISEASE OF THE LARCH. 



falls off periodically in scales (the smooth -barked trees excepted), 

 and with these scales the lichen for the most part drops off. The 

 formation of lichen may be prevented, and its injurious effects 

 cured by thoroughly draining damp land, and by judicious planting 

 and thinning. If these suggestions be followed, the larch will 

 still remain one of our best and most useful coniferse. 



Although larch can be reared to advantage only under the con- 

 ditions mentioned above, it does not follow that the tree should be 

 planted in no other circumstance. On the contrary, it should be 

 largely employed as nurses in all plantations, in most soils, and 

 in most situations ; to be thinned out at pleasure in those unfav- 

 ourable to its growing in a healthy state, and to large dimensions. 

 Such thinning requires to be executed in a very careful manner, 

 taking soil, situation, and exposure to guide the operation, instead 

 of the appearance of the tree, since at the age of from fifteen to 

 twenty-five the larch would appear to be the proper tree to leave 

 for the permanent crop, and would be apt to mislead the operator 

 in his selection. Larch thinnings pay better than any other, and 

 this alone is a recommendation to plant it largely as nurses, and 

 have the greatest possible returns in a given time. 



