234 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



for replacing the European species, which has 

 so often proved itself very profitable despite the 

 constant insidious attacks of this fell disease. 



Like the birch, the most light-demanding of 

 broad-leaved trees as the larch is among conifers, 

 it is one of the hardiest and most rapid growers 

 among our woodland trees, hence it can well be 

 utilised, wherever necessary, as a nurse for less 

 hardy species in frost-holes. But then it should 

 be cut out when it has served its purpose, al- 

 though there will often be the temptation to 

 let it stand just a year or two more to grow a 

 bit larger before being cut out, and that little 

 advantage may be dearly bought by interference 

 with the growth of- what is meant to be the 

 permanent crop. A tree here and there, how- 

 ever, should always add something to the value 

 of the crop, so long as this retention of larch 

 is not done on too large a scale. 



