232 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



more valuable, while the underplanting would 

 have been another source of income, and not 

 merely an investment unprofitable in itself save 

 for the benefit it produced on the overwood. 

 Were all the requisite data available, the proof 

 of this would be simply a matter of calculation ; 

 but they are wanting as yet for such a specific 

 purpose. 



When planted among other young crops larch 

 will generally maintain for a considerable time 

 any advantage in height given to it, and its light 

 shade will not interfere to any excessive extent 

 with their growth. Whether, later on, the larch 

 is to be retained as part of the ultimate crop, 

 or removed if caught up and pressed by the 

 other trees, is a question which can only be 

 settled when it arises, after consideration of the 

 local market prices for the timber in question. 

 As a standard in copse, along with oak and 

 ash, it can well hold out a rotation of 100 to 

 1 20 years, thus producing timber of specially 

 valuable dimensions. One seldom sees it in 

 hedges, and yet it is really far better adapted 

 for being grown thus, especially with pruning 

 of the lower branches, than many of the standard 



