THE LARCH. 379 



germinate it is considered good seed. One pound of seed 

 contains about 70,000 clean grains. 



Direct sowings are made in spring, about 14 pounds of seed 

 per acre being required for broadcast sowings ; it receives a 

 covering of about one-tbird of an incb, and it germinates 

 after tbree or four weeks, if the seed is fresh ; okl seed 

 germinates very irreguhirly. Direct sowings are rarely made. 



In nurseries the seed may be sown broadcast or in drills. 

 British nurserymen generally sow broadcast, about one pound 

 of seed per 100 square feet of seed-bed. The seedlings are 

 pricked out when one year old, or not at all. Plantings are 

 done with two-year-old seedlings, or with transplants after 

 they have stood one or two years in the nursery lines. Older 

 plants are rarely used. In Britain the method of planting is 

 generally notching ; pit planting is also done. Planting must 

 be done early in spring, or in autumn, as the larch sprouts 

 very early. The i)lants need not be placed closer than 

 4 feet apart. 



Owing to its great light requirement the tree is not really 

 suited for natural regeneration by seed ; but if this is 

 attempted, the mother trees must be placed far apart, or 

 the area clear cut in strips, allowing the seed to fall on them 

 from adjoining woods. The method is only successful under 

 favourable circumstances. At any rate, a second seed year 

 should not be awaited, but all areas not stocked by the first 

 seed year should be planted up. 



Owing to the great damage by Pcziza {Dasijscypha) Will- 

 hnnmii, the larch should in future be introduced singly into 

 other woods, especially beech woods. 



'/. Tendinii. 



FcrtiUtif of Soil. — Pure woods protect the soil sufficiently 

 only for about 25 to 30 years ; hence they should be under- 

 planted. 



External Dangers. — In its natural home larch is hardy ; it 

 suffers little from late frosts, and also not much from drought. 



