PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



395 



TREES OF AMERICAN FORESTS, THE GRANDEUR AND GLORY 



OF OUR COUNTRY. 



Shall they be Perpetuated, That Posterity May Enjoy Their Utility? 



LARCH. 

 Larix. 



The American Larch, or Tamarack, L. Americana, is hardy in the North; 

 grows quickly in dry soils, even in gravelly, although natural to far northern 

 swamps. Its value is far less than the European Larch, L. Europca, which latter 

 is planted for ornament and for timber, being a rapid growing, handsome tree, 

 with foliage which resembles an evergreen, although it is deciduous. 



In thirty years specimen trees in parks have reached the height of 60 feet, 

 with a diameter of twenty-nine inches. It is safe to base an estimate on the 

 European Larch increasing an inch in diameter for each year of its growth. 



This is the principal tree which is largely planted in foresting tracts of 

 Europe, and eminent authority has estimated that the profits from European 

 Larch in fifty years would be $5,000 per acre, after deducting all expenses, taxes 

 and interest. 



( )wing to its upright habit and slender growth, it will bear much closer plant- 

 ing than forest trees which have a more spreading nature. Young trees may be 

 set four feet apart, if plants are abundant, and the thinnings are of sufficient im- 

 portance to warrant close planting ; this will require 2,704 plants per acre ; other- 

 wi>e set them seven feet apart each way. using goo plants per acre. 



With good cultivation and fair soil, the plantation may require thinning after 

 the twelfth year, at which time they should be of value for many purposes, while 

 at twenty years the Larch will make good telegraph poles to the value of $2,200 

 at their present valuation. 



If the greater distance is observed in the first planting, some quick growing 

 trees should be set between the rows of Larch, for use as fuel, or poles, to be re- 

 moved in a few years, the object being to prevent the formation of side branches 

 by the Larch. 



While there are so many nurseries in the country from which small plants may 

 be obtained at very low cost, it is not advisable for any one, not fully experienced, 

 to undertake growing Larch, nor Evergreens from seed, as this is a business in 

 itself which requires far more care than can be given by those who plant trees. 



