THE LARCH. 295 



like the sections of a telescope. This appearance results from the 

 unusually short intervals between the numerous tiers ot branches 

 (whether thev still remain, or whether their former presence is indi- 

 cated only by a scar). The difference in girth above and below each 

 tier is practically indistinguishable, and the outline ot the trunk appears 

 to be made up ot two straight lines converging towards the summit. 

 The branches are short and slight in proportion to the height of 

 the tree. They grow from the trunk in horizontal whorls, and so 

 torm right angles with it. They appear to be inserted into the stem 

 rather than to grow trom it, and are surrounded by a necklace ot 

 bark. ^^'ith age the lower ones become drooping, and the upper 

 ones more upright. The smaller branches again, grow at first hori- 

 zontally from the boughs, but quickly become pendent, while the 

 slender branchlets which they support are borne down by the v\'eight 

 of the cones. The growth of the tree is continued from buds at 

 the tips of the shoots. The lateral buds produce, for the most 

 part, flowers and leaves tufted on arrested branches. Trees grown in 

 a confined space, or even single specimens when old, lose all but 

 their upper boughs, and since none of the Pines or Firs send out 

 new branches from stem and roots below those already formed, the 

 trunk has the appearance of a bare mast for half its height or more, 

 and if this should be broken the tree dies. Occasionally a Larch 

 with a forked stem may be met with. 



The bark of the vouno- Larch is smooth and g-reenish-brown in 

 colour, with vertical stripes of a lighter shade from half an inch 

 to two inches deep, according to the age of the tree. These markings 

 indicate weak places in the outermost layer of bark, which in a few 

 years, when the inner layer develops, will yield and burst to give 

 it place. Later on they form furrows, which deepen, while the bark 



