CONCLUSION. 



273 



trees that were killed down to near the ground in 

 1879 are now producing young shoots, and promise 

 fair to again become trees. The bark is very tender, 

 and all the more so if the texture is poor and dry, and 

 is more liable to disease between the period when it 

 sheds the outer thin, transparent, straw-coloured bark, 

 and that of assuming the corky form, than at any 

 other stage of growth. Abundance of air, room for 

 branches, dry porous soil, and free open exposure, are 

 the conditions under which it thrives best, and the 

 opposite those where it thrives worst. In confirma- 

 tion of this opinion, it is to be observed that all dry 

 hilly districts are better adapted for larch than damp 

 flat ones. The Highlands are better than the Low- 

 lands, Wales in general better than England, and 

 some districts in Ireland as good, if not better than 

 either. 



Eighth. The larch is by no means a good margin 

 tree when near the sea, as its foliage is easily injured 

 by the salt spray several miles distant when severely 

 exposed, but is as good as any if sufficiently inland 

 and sheltered from the north and east. 



Ninth. The larch bears a stronger analogy to hard- 

 wood trees than any other coniferse. It stands thin- 

 ning well, bears pruning, of which it often stands in 

 need, being liable to double leaders, and if cut over 

 near the ground when young, produces shoots which 

 in due time form excellent trees. From this reproduc- 

 tive peculiarity of the tree it is often found that where 

 ground game abounds, and the young plants are de- 



