2 50 THE LARCH. 



the larch is both a very tender and delicate tree, and 

 yet remarkably hardy, strong, and tenacious of life. 

 Its foliage, more especially when newly expanded, is 

 very easily injured by cold winds or frost; and its 

 bark when young, and up to the period of becoming 

 hard, scaly, and corky, is equally as tender as the 

 leaves are, and suffers much in the form of blister from 

 cold winds, wet soil, damp atmosphere, frost, and even 

 dull, sunless weather (as in 1879) during spring and 

 summer, to a serious and alarming extent. On the 

 other hand, its young and new wood in winter endures 

 the most intense frost; and the bark, when once it has 

 assumed the corky condition, is proof against all 

 inclemencies of weather. Its roots, and especially its 

 fibres (except, perhaps, in damp rich loam or cold 

 clay), will continue sound and healthy while the tree 

 to which they are attached is lingering for want of 

 air, light, and sunshine, for a period far beyond which 

 any other tree will endure, and ultimately revive and 

 nourish the tree to a great size and age. 



