Killing of Larch in Nelson Forest District* 



Mr. II. U. MiuMillan, Chief Fort. •<!( r <,f BrUish Columbia. 



Ill July, llU.i, fliiini>s of * ii'il-tops ' were 

 notioed ainouijst the mixed stands of 

 western lan-h on tlie mountain slopes 

 above the Arrow Lakes. The trees affected 

 were eomparatively few in lunnher, and 

 were ehielly at an elevation of about .'5,500 

 feet. It was not found convenient to 

 make a stuily of the causes of the damage 

 during the season, the attention of Mr. 

 Swaine being devoted to the more im- 

 portant outbreaks of insect^ nn other 

 species. 



The affection, whatever it may bi', has 

 spread with e.xtreme rapidity, and may bo 

 expected to l>e reportecl soon from other 

 localities. 



The larcdi in this district is not a very 

 important tree. Jn the forest it appears 

 as tall, clean timber. Its proiluct does 

 not justify its appearance. The butt is 

 heavy, and trees which are to be lloated 

 or ilriven must be long butted four to 

 eight feet. The butt logs are usually very 

 shaky, and when dry practically fall to 



Birch Planted Too Far Apart. 

 This picture shows an undesirable, grassy condition, the result of idanting too far 

 apart a tree which naturally jiroduces little shade. — From Care of the U'uudlot. 



In May, 1914, a trip through the same 

 country showed an enormous increase in 

 the number of * red-tops. ' Api)arently the 

 greater part of the larch on both shores 

 of the Arrow Lakes, from water level to 

 the up[)er limits of the species, is affected 

 so seriously as to cause the destruction of 

 the foliage. The affected trees, in many 

 cases, form a third or more of the forest 

 stand. The burns of several years ago 

 have, in many places, reforested, one- 

 quarter to one-half of the young stand 

 being larch. The young larch, as well as 

 the old, appears to suffer. 



pieces, and, therefore, the trees are usually 

 long butted, even where the logs are not 

 to be floated to the mill. The lumber is 

 heavy and pays a higher freight charge 

 than other interior tind)ers. As is true 

 with other western timbers, the defei-ts 

 and characteristics vary in different dis- 

 tricts. There are places where it is not 

 necessary to long butt western larch. It 

 is not, however, a favorite tree with the 

 manufacturer or timber owner. 



Should the killing of the larch result in 

 its disi>lacement in the forest by either 

 bull pine or western Avhite pine, its tw» 



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