A NEW SPECIES OF LARCH. I49 



it is only found on the shores of Olga Bay, and quotes a letter 

 written by Maximowicz. " Common on the east coast of the 

 great bay, forming an open wood on rocky ground in mixture 

 with Quercus mongolica and Betula Ermani. Trees often occur 

 up to a foot in diameter, with very brittle, wide-spreading gnarled 

 branches." 



The district where this larch occurs is on the continental 

 coast immediately opposite Yezo. It is characterised by a 

 severe climate, the average annual temperature being only 40° F. 

 with an average summer temperature of 68° F., while the sea, 

 though not actually frozen over in the winter, is often coated 

 with ice near the shore. Reclus, Nouv. Geog. Utiiv. vi., 835 

 (1881), states that the temperature at Olga rises in August 

 sometimes to 96° F. The climate appears to be an extreme one ; 

 and in all probability this larch would be of no economic value 

 in this country ; but seeds ought to be obtained, as it possibly 

 might thrive high up in the mountains. 



25. The "Hybrid Larch." 



{With Plate.) 

 By J. M. Murray, B.Sc. 



The name "hybrid larch" is usually applied to plants raised 

 from seed of Japanese larch, Larix leptolepis, collected in this 

 country. 



Many foresters have doubts as to the hybridity of the plants, 

 and it is impossible to say as yet how far these doubts are 

 justified. The chief arguments for and against hybridity will 

 be given, but at the same time it is not intended to introduce 

 any bias towards either side ; the question should at present 

 remain an open one. 



It is often assumed that a first cross should show characters 

 which are intermediate between those of the parents. The 

 earliest recorded crosses made by a botanist were of this 

 nature (Kolreuter, 1761), and horticulturists to the present day 

 usually start operations on the hypothesis that their hybrids 

 will show intermediate characters. This, however, is only one 

 of many possibilities. 



Recent work has shown that in hybrids between members of 

 closely-related races intermediate characters are often wanting, 



