30 THE LARCH. 



bare pole left, probably being considered useless for 

 anything. From the time it got room and freedom 

 quite an amazing growth set in, and so fast did it 

 grow, that it had made as much wood in the next lo 

 years as it had made during the whole of its previous 

 existence. The layers were so small during the first 

 76 years as scarcely to be counted, being sometimes 

 at the rate of 30 or less to the inch, while from j6 

 years on to now, when cut ( 1 09 years), it grew at the 

 rate of an inch diameter in 2 years, or 4 zones of 

 wood to the inch. Probably no other tree except the 

 larch would have lingered between life and death so 

 long, and afterwards started with a vigour equal to 

 what is usually seen only in young trees in favourable 

 conditions. 



If any general term can express the quality of larch- 

 producing soil, it is that adapted for growing barley. 

 Tlie soil adapted to larch, minus the manure and culti- 

 vation, is that which barley deliglits to grow in. Oak 

 has an affinity for wheat-producing soils, and larch for 

 that in wdiich barley attains the highest perfection. 



The larch, like all other fast-growing trees, is impa- 

 tient of anything that obstructs or restrains its growth, 

 therefore it should be carefully seen to that nothing 

 be allowed to impede its growth in root or branch. 

 This, however, is easier said than done, for the seasons 

 and weather vary so greatly, that what would be con- 

 ducive to health on the one side is inimical to it on 

 the other. In a ravine, for example, where tlie trees 

 grow well in a dry hot season, they sicken and Ian- 



