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American Larch. 



American Larch. (Larix Americana, Michx; L. 

 laricina, Koch.). Also called American larch, Tamarack or 

 Hackmatack. 



The American larch is distinguished from the European 

 larch by the cones which are one-half to one inch long while 

 those of the European larch are about twice that size. 

 Native from the north Atlantic states westward to eastern 

 Minnesota and north to the Arctic circle. It grows on swamp 

 land but attains its best development on land that is not too 

 wet. It is a tree adapted to moist soil only. A number of 

 specimens of the American larch were tested at this Station 

 a few years ago in open exposure intermingled with Ameri- 

 can Aspen, where they made a fair growth for several years 

 until it became necessary to clear the plat. The growth, 

 however, was too slow and slender for the tree to be re- 

 garded as of value for the prairie planter 



European Larch. 



European Larch. (Larix decidua, Mill, DC.; L. 

 Europaea, DC.). Native of northern Europe and the Alps of 

 central Europe. A graceful lawn tree attaining large size 

 on moist soil in its native home. It has been largely 

 planted in eastern states for profit and ornament. There are 

 some excellent plantations of this tree in northern Iowa. 

 For all purposes it is regarded superior to the American 

 larch as it does better on dry land. But the general exper- 

 ience with it on northwestern prairies is unfavorable. A 

 moist soil and sheltered locality are necessary for the best 

 results. Only a small proportion of those originally planted 

 at this Station are standing. It is subject here to injury of 

 the new growth from late frosts. 



Geo. H. Whiting, Yankton, S. D., writes that the Eur- 

 opean larch "is a very graceful lawn tree, but this is about 

 the northwestern limit of its hardiness." 



