THE LARCH. o77 



tree, although it grows most vigorously, suiters excessively 

 from disease in Britain, as will be indicated under /. 



'/. SJiape and Dcrclnimu'iil. 



Larch has an undivided stem, with a conical thin crown ; 

 where the tree is exposed to wind the lower part of the stem 

 is frequently curved. In crowded woods the branches aie 

 restricted to the uppermost part of the stem. It develops a 

 tap root and generally a fairly deep going root system. 



It is a quick height grower from the beginning and until it 

 has reached nearly its full height, w^hich may under favourable 

 circumstances be placed at about 120 feet. As regards volume 

 increment it stands between the firs and the pines. 



Ordinarily it would not exceed an age of 300 years, though 

 it is said in the Alps sometimes to reach double that age. 



<-. ReiiniiliirUi'fi Poircr. 



Full seed j^ears connuence at the age of about 3U years ; 

 they are light, and may be expected every 8 to 5 j^ears. A 

 certain quantity of seed is produced almost every .year. On 

 the whole, the reproductive power by seed is moderate. 



Larch possesses a certain power of reproduction by shoots, 

 but this is of no practical value in sylviculture. 



/'. (Jharacter ami Cinniinsiliun of Wnuds. 

 Larch preserves a sufticient cover overhead only for a limited 

 period, generally not exceeding 30 years, when it begins to 

 thin out admitting sun and air currents, which cause the 

 fallen needles to decompose quickly, and the previous growth 

 of moss to make way for grass. Hence, it is not suited for 

 pure woods except on fertile soils or under specially favour- 

 able climatic conditions. It is far preferable to mix larch into 

 other species with a dense foliage, such as beech, silver fir and 

 spruce,* against which it holds its own. Id Britain it is also 



* If Euvthtr investigation should show that Chermes laricis and ahietis are 

 the same insect, a mixture of siiruce and larch may ])ecome uiidesira])lc. 



