378 NOTES ON UKITISH FOREST TREES. 



mixed with oak, chestnut and Scotch pme, but these niixtuies 

 are not good ones in themselves ; if they are nevertheless 

 employed, the reason is to be found in the fact that these 

 three species are more valuable as timber trees than the 

 above mentioned shade bearing species, and because in the 

 moist climate of Britain a departure from the rules, which 

 guide the forester in arranging mixtures, is more permissible 

 tlian in dry Continental countries. 



Whenever larch is grown pure, it should be underplanted 

 at the age of 15 to 30 years with one of the shade bearing 

 species mentioned above. In addition, the Douglas fir may 

 be suggested for this purpose, because it stands sufficient shade 

 to grow under a thin larch wood, it requires some protection 

 during early youth, is a fast grower, and yields valuable 

 timber. Even the Weymouth pine may do for underplanting 

 the larch, provided the latter is strongly thinned beforehand. 



//. Sijlvimltvre Sijstcms. 



Larch is treated as high forest, as standards over coppice, 

 and it is frequently grown as a shelter- wood over and between 

 tender species. In high forest it may be treated under a 

 rotation of GO years and upwards, according to the size of 

 timber required. It is useful to fill blanks in existing woods, 

 owing to its rapid growth. 



//. Formnlion of WooiU. 



Larch may be planted on clear cuttings ; rarely sown ; in 

 favourable localities it can also be naturally regenerated. Care 

 in selectioji of sites is essential, to })revent disease being brought 

 about by unfavourable soil and climate. 



The seed ripens in October or November, and begins to fall 

 in the following spring ; some of it remains in the cones until 

 the spring of the second year, or even longer. The empty 

 cones renuiin for several yeais on the trees. The germinating 

 power is maintained from 2 to 1 years. If 85 per cent. 



