46 The Farm Woodlot 



may contain or whether it is hard or soft and whether 

 the color is white or yellowish. These names are confusing 

 and uncertain. A standard common name should always 

 be used in speaking of any of these trees so that others 

 may know what kind of pine is meant. 



The Scotch pine and Austrian pine are not native to this 

 country, but have been introduced from Europe. They 

 are valuable trees for planting in certain places and are 

 used particularly in farm plantations. 



The larches 



The larches are distinguished from the pines chiefly 

 by their leaves. In summer the foliage is very different, 

 and in the winter the larches are without leaves as are 

 the oaks and elms. Of the three larches occurring natu- 

 rally in the United States but one is found in the eastern 

 half. This one is the common tamarack of the north 

 woods and chiefly of the swamps. The European larch 

 is a species introduced from Europe and is a better and 

 larger tree than our native tamarack. It is used for 

 ornamental planting and, to considerable extent, for farm 

 planting. It is a valuable tree for the farm woodlot 

 as it is a rapid grower and produces very excellent wood. 



The wood of the larch is hard, durable in the soil and 

 is resinous. Our native larch is distinctly a swamp 

 tree of the northern states and Canada, and in most of 

 the tamarack swamps it does not attain very large size, 

 usually forming excellent pole and post wood. 



The larches do not sprout, and new trees must always 

 be grown from seed. 



