NOTES OX SILVICULTURAL INTEREST. 20J 



Japanese larch. The foHage and the cones (which these plants 

 are now producing) are identical with the leptolepis, and the 

 outward appearance and vigour of growth may be entirely due 

 to climatic conditions : but it is very improbable that these 

 plants are a cross between Larix europaa and Larix leptolepis, 

 since, from observations made here, the flowering season of the 

 two species does not seem to coincide. 



We have now many thousands of these plants on this estate — 

 all are fine growers, but those referred to are the only ones of 

 their kind forming a pure crop, while it is believed that they are 

 the oldest and largest of their kind. I do not think that 

 planters will err in cultivating as many plants as possible from 

 home-grown seed. 



Alongside of these larches is a plantation of the Western 

 Hemlock {Tsuga albertiana), which was formed in 1907, also with 

 plants raised from home-collected seed. . The plants were put 

 out when 4 years old, having been twice transplanted. The 

 planting was done on the pitting method at 4 feet by 4 feet. 

 The plants were then 30 to 36 inches high ; their average height 

 now is about 11 feet, and the average circumference at i foot 

 from the ground is 6^ inches. 



This tree is usually looked upon as being frost tender, but so 

 far no damage has been done to it by frost, although the 

 situation it occupies is quite open, and other species such as 

 Douglas fir {Thuja gigantia) and Sitka spruce have all suff"ered. 



Last winter was a very severe one in this particular place. 

 The young trees were for some time completely covered with 

 snow — only a mound appearing to mark where the largest of 

 them were present. When the snow disappeared, however, the 

 plants stood erect and no evil effects have followed. They are 

 much more root-firm than the neighbouring Douglas firs, many 

 of which, from their excessive mass of foliage, are bent over with 

 the wind. The height-growth of the albertiana is much greater 

 than that of the Douglas firs, but the diameter of the stem is 

 about the same in both. 



As in the case of the Japanese larch, albertiana seed is both 

 scarce and dear, and the prices quoted in nurserymen's catalogues 

 make the planting of this species as a forest tree prohibitive. 

 On this estate we have many thousands, and beyond shading 

 against the direct rays of the sun during germination, and 

 giving overhead protection from frost during the first two 



