THE ENEMIES OF ENGLISH WOODLANDS 297 



growth, which in the first place acts upon the individual 

 and ultimately upon its progeny, giving rise to a weakened 

 stock, and one more prone to disease. In the same way 

 the larch raised from home - saved seed, if not actually 

 deteriorated as regards its sexual reproduction, may yet 

 possess weakened vegetative powers, which only come to light 

 when adverse conditions of soil or climate prevail. It is a 

 notorious fact that hundreds of old specimens of larch have 

 grown, and are still growing, sound and in good health on soils 

 and situations which cannot be induced to grow younger 

 crops in a satisfactory manner. One reason for this is 

 possibly explained, as stated in Chapter IV., by the fact that 

 early introductions were planted singly or in small groups 

 amongst hardwoods, and consequently under conditions more 

 favourable for their healthy growth. But it is also a per- 

 fectly reasonable assumption, that the more vigorous con- 

 stitution of these early introductions, which originated 

 from introduced seed, is as much responsible for their 

 better health as the more favourable conditions of growth. 

 We are not aware that any experiment of sufficient length 

 to furnish an answer to this interesting question has yet 

 been made, but careful observations on the growth of trees 

 and plantations raised from these respective sources will 

 partly, if not entirely, settle the entire question at some 

 time or other. 



So far, we have reviewed the more important of the 

 various theories which have been advanced from time to 

 time in connection with what is considered to be the most 

 troublesome pest which English foresters have to deal with, 

 and have given our reasons for doubting the accuracy of the 

 conclusions which have been drawn from them. It may be 

 presumptuous on our part to question the opinions and 

 statements of scientists who are admittedly at the head of 

 their profession, but the larch disease is a subject which can 

 be studied with the naked eye as well as with the microscope, 

 and, if the former cannot detect the germination of the spore, 

 it can at anyrate see the result of its germination after a few 

 months. But, if those we differ from are in the right, our 

 dissent can make little difference to them, and in any case 

 no harm can be done by giving what the author considers 



