26 THE LARCH. 



An example of this appeared in a plantation on the 

 estate of Invercaulcl, Aberdeenshire, which was planted 

 by the late Mr. Morrison, nurseryman, Elgin, in 1854. 

 One of the conditions in the contract was to plant a 

 certain quantity of Tyrolese plants in stated parts of the 

 enclosure — those parts at the lower end of the planta- 

 tion confronting Balmoral Castle, and about half-a-mile 

 distant from it, and quite observable from the Deeside 

 turnpike road. In August last the writer examined, 

 very minutely, the larches in this plantation, now 

 twenty-six years old, and on comparing the Tyro- 

 lese groups with those of Scotch produce, taking soil, 

 situation, altitude, &c., into account, he left the planta- 

 tion quite unable to say which had the superiority, 

 or whether or not there was any difference between 

 the two sorts — soil and situation making such great 

 difference. 



On viewing the plantation from the county road, 

 three of the Tyrolese groups appear much in advance 

 of the others, but on entering the plantation it is 

 found that this appearance is only produced by the 

 rising ground on which they are situated. The greater 

 part of the larches in this plantation are in a very 

 thrivinfT condition, both those from foreim and home- 

 grown seed. The only exceptions are weakly plants 

 overgrown by stronger ones for want of thinning: 

 such overgrown plants are black in the bark, of a 

 sooty appearance, and soil the hands on taking hold 

 of them. The foliage on such weakly trees is of a 

 pale green, and covered with Coccus Laricis. On the 



