Larix 



( 476 ) 



Larkspur 



Only Species : 



biternata, grh., Oct., pur., Ivs. dark grn. 



LARIX. 



Description.- Deciduous trees (ord. Coniferse) of 

 ornamental appearance. The Larch takes a high 

 place amongst trees by reason of the tender 

 green of its young foliage and young red cones, 

 which are so conspicuous as spring wears into 

 summer. The branches are naturally of sub- 

 pendent habit, and this adds considerably to the 

 beauty and elegance of the tree. 



Naturally the Larch makes a tall, clean trunk, 

 and as the wood is firm and tough, trunks of younsr 

 trees are in great request for scaffold poles. The 

 Larch also furnishes Venice Turpentine and 

 Briancon Manna. 



Much of the timber is furnished by the extensive 

 Larch woods found in Central America, but the 

 tree is also planted in considerable numbers in this 

 country for economic purposes, as well as for its 

 appearance as a plantation tree. 



Propagation. By seeds sown when ripe in a 

 sheltered border out of doors. The seedlings 

 should be transplanted at an early stage, and 

 replanted 1' apart in rows the same distance 

 asunder, in nursery beds. A further transplanting 

 should be given in a couple of years' time. 



Soil. Almost any soil will <lo, but some of the 

 best specimens are found growing in light or 

 medium loam over a substratum of gravel. 



Pests. - Of late years the Larch Canker or Blister, 

 the work of a fungus (Dasycypha calycina), has given 

 a great deal of trouble. It is most rampant upon 

 trees growing in low, damp positions. All wounds 

 should be dressed, if healthy, with Stockholm tar. 

 Excision of affected narts, where possible, is to be 



recommended. Planting in open, airy situations 

 is, however, the best preventive measure. 



Larch Moth (Coleophora laricella) occasionally 

 gives trouble, but its ravages are not as a rule upon 

 a big scale. Remedies are difficult, if not impos- 

 sible, of application. Chermes Laricis is another 

 insect pest. (For remedies, see CHERMES.) 



Principal Species and Varieties: 



davurica, a small tree, 

 foliage grn. (?yn. da- 

 hurica) . 



japonica, bluish grn. 

 Ivs. 



prostratn . low-growing 

 habit. 



curopaea, 80' to 100', foli- 

 age light grn. (ryiin. 

 decidua, exeelsa, pyra- 

 midalis, vulgaris, Abies 

 Larix, and FinusLarix). 

 Common Larch. 



glauca, glaucous foli- 

 age. 



- pendula, branches 

 drooping. 



rossica, compact habit. 



- sibirica, brunches 

 horizontal (.--'i/M. arch- 

 angelica). 



(JriflUhii, 30' to 40' (si/ns. 

 Abies griffitbiana and 

 Piuus Griffithii). Sik- 

 kim Larch. 



leptolepis, '!' to 40' (sys. 

 japonica, Abies lepto- 

 lepis, and Pinus lepto- 

 lepis). 



Lyalli, 3.V to 45'. 



occidentalis, 100' to 150 

 (/. Finns Nuttallii). 



ppmiula, 70' to 90', wood 

 heavy and close grained 

 (.//*. americana, a. 

 rubra .microcarpa, Abies 

 microcarpa, a,nd Pinus 

 aririua). Black Larch, 

 or Tamarack. 



LARKSPUR. 



The beautiful garden flowers grown so exten- 

 sively under this name are Delphiniums, but they 

 are likely to be long cultivated under their popular 

 name. The annual Larkspurs are useful, but 

 the tall perennials exceed them in beauty and 

 value. The culture of these beautiful plants is 

 given under DELPHINIUM, and selections of the 

 best varieties are given there. 



Photo: Hiss M. Cotton. Lismore. 



BLUE PEUEXXIAL LAUKSPUHS OK DELPHINIUMS. 



