LARIX, The Larches. 



Crown. Leaves deciduous. 



Tolerance. Very intolerant. 



Wood. Heavy, hard, strong. 



Range. Cooler part of the North Temperate Zone to the northern 

 tree limit, and from sea-level to the mountain timber line. 



Soil. Xerophytic. 



Association. In limited pure groups and solitary. 



General. Three of the nine known species occur in both the 

 United States and Canada. In Canada it is tenth in rank with approxi- 

 mately 2% of the total cut of 1912; average mill price $15.00. In the 

 United States less than 1% of the total cut of 1910, with an average mill 

 price of $13.30; of cross ties they furnished over five million, or over 3%. 



LARIX LARICINA, (Du Roi) Koch. 



LARIX AMERICANA, Michx. 

 Tamarack. Hackmatack. Larch. 



Size. Maximum 100 ft. by 30 in. Average 70 ft. by 20 in. 



Growth. Rapid under favorable conditions and fairly persistent. 

 130 upland trees in Manitoba grew 5 inches in 35 years and 8 inches in 

 56 years; 89 muskeg trees in Manitoba grew 5 inches in 68 years and 8 

 inches in 140 years. Greatest age probably 150 to 180 years. 



Root System. Broad and shallow. 



Bole. Medium taper. 



Crown. Small, pyramidal, fine branching; usually extending to the 

 base until the 25th or 30th year. 



Tolerance. Intolerant, at no time enduring heavy shade. 



Wood. Hard, heavy, and elastic; 38 pounds. 



Reproduction. Prolific seeder; heavy production every 2 to 4 

 years. Flowers in March and April ; cones mature in fall or early winter, 

 and shed their seed gradually. Seed is minute and winged; low ger- 

 mination percent; vitality medium. Seedlings fairly hardy. They 

 persist in a mixture with more tolerant but slower growing species of the 

 same age. 



Range. Transcontinental northern limit of tree growth, south to 

 Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. Alti- 

 tudes generally low; never found on high steep slopes. 



Climate. Widest range of temperature of all American conifers; 

 precipitation may be as low as 12 inches per year; withstands almost any 

 conditions of humidity. 



Soil. No special requirement. Physiologically xerophytic. 



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