36 THE LAECH. 



throughout this plantation, wherever the spade enters 

 freely, there the larch thrives well. Where the plants 

 have failed, it is hard underneath to within a few 

 inches of the surface. Moory soil that has been under 

 cultivation at any time, and subsequently planted 

 with larch, invariably disappoints the expectation of 

 the planter. The plants grow rapidly during a few 

 years, so long as they enjoy the influence of the culti- 

 vated soil and unexhausted manure ; but the main roots 

 of the tree thus grown soon decay, and it is henceforth 

 only supported by a few minor surface roots, which at 

 most only maintain its vitality. Meanwhile the heart- 

 wood is contracting rot, and the whole tree gradually 

 decays. 



At the present time the writer is cutting a plan- 

 tation of larch, about thirty years planted, upon soil 

 as above described, and he finds nearly all the trees 

 " pumped." The few exceptional sound trees are 

 where the soil is naturally deep and the roots well 

 to the surface. 



Within the same enclosure, and similarly situated, 

 are portions of larch planted upon the ground in its 

 uncultivated state; and here the trees, though gene- 

 rally not so large as those upon the once cultivated 

 ground, are quite sound in the heart, and, but for the 

 hardness of the soil, I have no doubt would attain a 

 good size and considerable age. 



Moory soils are in general adapted to coniferse, 

 but are often compact and overlying a subsoil of 

 " moor pan," in which case no roots will enter or go 



