ENEMIES OF CONIFEROUS TREES 263 



close woodland, and admitting plenty of light 

 and air to the tree is attended with beneficial 

 results. Other species of Pinus suffer greatly 

 from attacks of the coccus. 



When growing on light gravelly soil, the stem 

 of this pine is apt to become '' pumped " or rotten 

 at the core, for which disease only a change to 

 suitable soil can be recommended. 



Larch Sawfiy [Nematus Erichsonii), — Of late 

 years, in northern England especially, larch plan- 

 tations have suffered considerably from the ravages 

 of this insect. The larvae, which are about three- 

 quarters of an inch long, with twenty feet, resemble 

 those of the Fine Sawfiy, and Gooseberry and 

 Currant Sawfiy, and feed on the leaves of the 

 larch. An attacked tree can readily be detected 

 by its partially leafless condition. It would be 

 well, so as to keep this recent importation in 

 check, that a sharp outlook should be kept on 

 young larch plantations during July and August. 



Larch Shoot Moth {Argyresthia atmoriella). — 

 Judging from the specimens that have been for- 

 warded for identification, the Larch Shoot Moth 

 would appear to be widely distributed over 

 England and southern Scotland. It is, how- 

 ever, only of late years that the insect has appeared 

 in quantity, or that its depredations have caused 

 serious loss in larch plantations. Fortunately, 

 where the larch trees are in a healthy condition 

 attacks are perceptibly restricted, whereas on low- 

 lying ground and on gravelly soils the appearance 

 and rapid spread of the insect are confirmed. 

 The attacks are, however, curiously erratic, the 

 trees in one portion of a plantation suffering 



