SPRUCE, SCOTS PINE AND JAPANESE LARCH. 



33 



even more marked with Scots pine than with spruce. As an 

 instance, in plantation K, the Scots pine in 1910 did not 

 commence to lay on wood until June, whereas in 191 2, 46 per 

 cent, of the whole season's growth was made in May. In 

 the former year April and May were wet and sunless, in 191 2 

 these months were unusually dry. The rainfall during the first 

 half of the summer of 19 14 was unusually light, and the result 

 is most clearly shown in the table by the restricted growth of 

 spruce in June and July, followed by a rapid growth in August 

 after rain had fallen. In the case of plantation B (spruce) no 

 less than 69 per cent, of the whole season's growth in 1914 was 

 made in August. The total increase in girth does not vary 

 widely, taking one season with another, but the month in which 

 the largest increase is made seems to depend greatly on rainfall. 

 A season cannot apparently be too wet for spruce, but for Scots 

 pine a moderate rainfall gives the best results. The growing 

 season for both spruce and Scots pine appears to extend from 

 the middle of May to the first week of September, the spruce 

 having slightly the longer growth of the two. The largest 

 average percentage of growth is made in June (30 per cent.), the 

 months of May and July being practically equal (22 per cent.). 

 There is a slight falling off in August, as compared with July, 

 and September accounts for only 5 per cent, of the total 

 increment. 



Particulars of rainfall for the five years may be of interest for 

 comparison. 



VOL. XXIX. PART I. 



