NOTES ON PARTICULAR TREES 71 



the native forests of larch would produce trees 

 of great health and resistance to disease, many 

 persons have sown larch carefully collected in 

 Switzerland or the Tyrol, but the results have 

 often been indecisive. There is little informa- 

 tion about the influence which the seed has on 

 the future tree as regards health, rapidity of 

 growth, and quality of timber. There is no 

 consensus among planters that there is any 

 proof that Continental is superior to native 

 seed, and it is believed that nurserymen, a 

 class whose practical knowledge makes their 

 opinion valuable, consider that better trees are 

 produced in England by English and Scotch 

 seed than by Continental seed. 



Japanese larch are not immune from disease, 

 but they seem to have justified the claim that 

 they are less susceptible to disease and in early 

 life, at least, have a more vigorous growth 

 than European larch. The seedlings are more 

 expensive than European larch, and they are 

 more liable to be killed by a prolonged drought. 

 The value of mature timber grown in England 

 has not yet been ascertained. Therefore, until 

 further information about it is available, this 

 larch should be planted only experimentally by 

 an English planter, or when there is some reason 



