26 BULLETIN 153, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



others $20). Probably the most important reason for the poor 

 returns, however, has been the lack of market for European larch 

 telephone or telegraph poles, claimed to be the most valuable form of 

 product. For this reason the owners have been unable to realize 

 any profit from their plantations. In one instance in Iowa the owner 

 secured from a local farmer's telephone company $1 each for poles 

 6 inches in diameter at the butt and 20 feet long, and $1.50 forslightly 

 larger ones. As a rule, however, there is no demand for the poles, 

 and lumber dealers do not handle them. They are considered as no 

 more durable than white cedar poles, are much heavier than the 

 latter, and the wood is so hard that it is difficult for a lineman to force 

 his climbing irons into it. The values assumed for European larch 

 poles are much less than those ordinarily received for similar-sized poles 

 of other species: 15-foot poles, 20 cents; 20-foot, 30 cents; 25-foot, 

 50 cents; 30-foot, 75 cents; 35-foot, $1.25; 40-foot, $2; 45-foot, 

 $3; and 50-foot, $4.50. First-class posts 4 to 6 inches in diameter at 

 the small end and 7 feet long have been valued at 10 cents each, and 

 cordwood at $1 per cord of 90 solid cubic feet. 



European larch is exceedingly intolerant; closely spaced stands 

 rapidly thin themselves, and thus do not fully utilized the ground. 

 It seems advisable, therefore, to use a wide spacing of 10 by 10 or 

 12 by 12 feet, and fill in with some tolerant, slightly more slowly 

 growing species, such as white pine, white spruce, or red oak. This 

 wider spacing is especially desirable, since larch stock is expensive 

 and the initial cost may be considerably reduced by filling in with 

 a cheaper species. Larch requires a fresh, well-drained, moderately 

 heavy soil. It does not do well in light, very sandy soils, or in very 

 poorly drained, heavier ones, 



It is not advisable to plant European larch in the New England 

 States, because old plantations are now beginning to be attacked 

 by the sawfly. In the Middle West it is questionable whether 

 European larch would be as profitable if planted on the good soils 

 (on which the present plantations stand) as some other species. It 

 does not grow as rapidly as certain hardwoods which furnish fully 

 as good post material, and it lacks their capacity to send up sprouts. 

 Nothing excells it, however, in producing straight timber, and a few 

 larch trees trees should be planted on every farm in the Middle West, 

 in order to produce sticks for hay poles, braces, beams, scantlings, 

 or other general utility purposes. Larch starts growth very early 

 in the spring, and it is difficult to get stock for planting at that time 

 which has not already started growth in the nursery. 



