CHAPTEE XXIV. 



GAME AND OTHER ANIMALS INyURIOUS TO LARCH. 



Larch is tender, delicate, and sensitive to a high 

 degree, and intolerant of any interference in any part, 

 and in nothing more so than its bark. If the bark is 

 either bruised or eaten in any way, or any of the 

 branches or spray roughly rustled with the horns 

 of animals, or crushed by ruthlessly pushing them 

 aside in going amongst them, in any such case, conse- 

 quences to the extent of seriously interfering with the 

 growth, or entirely destroying the tree, are the inevit- 

 able results. 



Larch should, therefore, more than any forest tree I 

 am acquainted with, be kept perfectly free of any in- 

 terference. Neither cattle, horses, sheep, hares, nor 

 rabbits should on any account be allowed amongst 

 them till the bark is well hardened and furrowed, the 

 side branches decayed to a height above their reach, 

 and the stems left clean and clear to a height of 6 or 

 8 feet, after which light cattle, or old cows, or sheep, 

 may be grazed in larch plantations without inflicting 

 any injury upon them, but even conferring a positive 

 good. Hares and rabbits should not be allowed access 



