144 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 
a height of 160 feet and a girth of 15 feet, and yielding 
timber of magnificent quality. Introduced by seed for 
the first time in 1903 by Elwes, followed up by larger 
supplies in 1908 (consequent on the visit of the writer to 
Montana in 1906), this larch is now being extensively 
tried both in this country and on the Continent. A few 
older trees, introduced as living plants in 1881 and 1889, 
have thriven well in the poor sandy soil of the pinetum at 
Kew ; and during dry years are conspicuous amongst other 
species by their freedom from Chermes and their extremely 
healthy dark-green foliage. This tree would seem, then, to 
be best suited for a dry and continental climate. A small 
plantation of western larch in the Queen’s Cottage grounds 
at Kew is healthy; but the trees, until 1917, were slow in 
growth, showing less vigour than European larch. In 1918 
they made vigorous leading shoots of 2 to 3 feet in length, 
in all probability due to the grass having been entirely 
killed by brambles in the preceding year. Possibly they 
will ultimately overtake European larch in height-growth 
in the sandy soil and comparatively dry climate of Kew. 
Hemlock Spruce.—The Western Hemlock Spruce (7'suga 
Albertiana) is one of the great trees in the Pacific Coast 
forests of North America, ranking in vigour of growth after 
Douglas fir and Sitka spruce. It is a successful ornamental 
tree in this country, attaining in favourable conditions about 
80 feet in height in 40 to 50 years; but it has seldom 
been used in plantations. It has given good results at 
Novar when used in underplanting larch. 
As a forest tree it bears great shade and develops 
a straight cylindrical stem, on which the dead branches 
persist in the same way as they do on silver fir or spruce; 
and it must be grown in close order if clean stems are 
desired. The wood is of about the same value as spruce. 
It reproduces itself naturally in all parts of this country ; 
and can be cheaply raised from home-grown seed. Seedlings 
in the nursery require to be shaded from the sun’s rays and 
protected against frost; transplanted at the end of the 
