514 CONIFERS. 



though some instances are reported in which the top seemed 

 first affected. Matthew observes, " the rot commences in 

 the roots which have struck down deepest into the earth, 

 especially those immediately under the trunk of the tree, 

 thence the corruption proceeds upwards in the centre of 

 the trunk, which, when much diseased, swells considerably 

 for a few feet above the ground, in consequence of the 

 new layers of wood forming thicker there, to afford the 

 necessary space for the fluid to pass upwards and down- 

 wards." 



When cut down soon after the taint has commenced, 

 the wood at the centre of the tree appears dry, tough, 

 and corky, easily distinguished from matured wood in a 

 sound state ; if allowed to stand any length of time after- 

 wards decay and rottenness rapidly proceed, and the centre 

 becomes hollow or piped, from which circumstance the 

 disease, in some parts, is known by the name of pumping. 



Mr. Gorrie, in the " Gardener's Magazine, 1 '' seems to 

 think, and indeed cites examples to show, that soils which 

 had previously been occupied by Scotch Pine tend to produce 

 and promote the rot in Larch, and states that, wherever 

 a crop of Larch has succeeded one of Scotch Pine, there 

 the disease has made rapid progress ; that plantations on 

 the same estate, planted at the same time, and similarly 

 circumstanced as to soil, &c, with the exception of not 

 succeeding a crop of Pine, have continued entirely free 

 from rot ; he therefore infers, that the decaying roots 

 of the Pine may form a powerful agent in promoting the 

 disease, in which view he is supported by the concurrent 

 testimony of Mr. James Young of Pitfour. That such 

 may be the case, and the disease induced under the cir- 

 cumstances above stated, we do not deny ; but still, when 

 we find that it is equally prevalent in rich soils, in dry 



