434 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION September 



feet and a diameter of 15 inches in nailed to a light frame, the laths alter- 



thirty years, but so rapid a growth is nating with open spaces to their width, 



uncommon here." Near New Haven, so as to give a half shade. These 



Conn., the best of the dominant trees frames may be permanently fastened 



of a small plantation have attained a at a height of 5 or 6 feet above the 



height of 50 to 53 feet and a diameter beds so that a man can work under 



of 9 to 12 inches in twenty-three years, them, or may be temporarily supported 



The seedlings were imported from on posts or poles 1/2 to 2 feet from 



Europe and were about 2.y 2 feet high the ground. Seedlings may be trans- 



and three to five years old when plant- ferred to the field when two years old, 



ed. In dense stands the diameter or at this age transplanted to nursery 



growth is often rather slow, in pro- rows and not put in the field until a 



portion to the rapid height growth. year later. In transplanting Larch 



it is absolutely essential that the work 



the wood; its economic uses. be done ver / early in the spring> as 



The wood of the Larch is heavy, the buds start early and a disturbance 



hard, strong, flexible, and very dur- of the plants after growth begins 



able in contact with the ground. When means death or serious injury to the 



grown on good soil it is yellowish- young trees. 



white, but in cold, elevated situations Plants in either a pure or mixed 



it is reddish-brown and much harder. European Larch plantation should be 



Because of its strength and durability, set f rom 4 to 6 feet apart each way ; 



it is very valuable for cross-ties, poles, the shorter distance is preferable in 



posts, etc., and is largely used in ship the West. In the West the ground 



building. must be broken and well subdued be- 



propagation. f re the plants are set. Check rows 



, . . , 1 , may be made with a plow or cultivator 



Reproduction is entirely by seeds. . and the lantg get {n b hand Qr they 



Propagation is best effected by trans- be ^ in holes d with a de 



planting nursery-grown seedlings or Com be raised between the rows 



transplants to the plantation. The for seyeral Cultivation of the 



seeds are borne abundantly in small, plantation is essential in most 



upright cones, and are easily collected cages s ^ the Eagt the liminarv 



In this country, however, because of paration of the land and the subse _ 



the small number of trees which have ' cultivation may be dispensed 



reached fruiting age, it is necessary l -., 

 to use imported seeds, which may be 



obtained direct from foreign dealers Mixed plantations are in general 

 or through the larger home seedsmen, most desirable. The Larch may be 

 Prices are as low as $1 per pound. combined to advantage with the fol- 

 Although a deciduous tree, the lowing species : White and Green Ash. 

 Larch is a conifer and should be treat- White and Slippery Elm. Scotch Pine, 

 ed as such in all nursery and planting Red Pine, White Pine, Norway 

 operations. Nursey culture is simple Spruce, and Red Cedar. Often three 

 and should be conducted according to or four of these species may be ad- 

 the general rules given in Bulletin vantageously combined, as the Euro- 

 No. 29 of this Bureau. Nursery seed pean Larch, White Elm. White Ash. 

 beds should be prepared in moist loam, Red Cedar, or White Pine. In such 

 and the seeds sown in shallow drills mixtures considerable care and skill 

 6 inches apart, and lightly covered are required in the thinnings, which 

 with fine dirt. Partial protection from should be done when the trees begin 

 the sun and beating rain should be crowding. 



given the young seedlings for the first In many portions of the country 



two years. The simplest screen for others species are of greater value and 



protective purposes is made of lath better adapted for planting than the 



