138 TSUGA, OR HEMLOCK SPRUCE FIRS 



Larch is a tree that is generally known ; but there is 

 another which is beginning to attract attention, a 

 tree that grows up quickly in its first twelve years of 

 life, that displays a red appearance of branch that in 

 winter lights up the landscape, and gives a sort of 

 Red Cardinalis willow effect to the scenes that it 

 occupies. 



This is the Japanese Larch, or Larix Leptolepis, 

 which is being now extensively planted, but which 

 has already begun to falsify the hastily formed 

 expectations that it would enjoy immunity from 

 Chermes and canker, and so rise superior in a popu- 

 larity above that of our older friend the European 

 Larch. 



With the exception of these two, all the others are 

 rarely to be found, and the Japanese Larch must still 

 be regarded as untried and in statu pupillari, and 

 several others are nothing more yet with us than 

 babes in the wood or nurseries ; for such are so far 

 the Lyall, Kurilensis, Occidentalis, and Sibirica, the 

 last a tree which is evidently unfitted for our 

 climatic conditions. 



This tree apparently seems to entertain a rooted 

 objection to any intermediate stage of climatic 

 condition between that of a sun-kissed or frost-bound 

 earth. And this is all we propose to say about it 

 here. 



L. Dahurica and L. Europ^a. — ^Amongst the 

 rarities this tree claims perhaps our first attention, 

 since it is among the few of alien origin that have, on 

 a few occasions, risen to eminence of growth upon 

 British soil. 



Between the L. Europaea and the L. Dahurica 

 only minute differences exist. Looking at two 

 specimens before me, I should say that the 

 branches of the Dahurica are darker, and do not 



