6 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES 



China and Japan, as far north as Siberia. About 40 species are 

 recognized. They are timber trees that thrive best in regions of 

 abundant rainfall and no other forest tree reaches farther north than 

 the larch. The wood is hard, tough and durable, of a brownish color, 

 very valuable for construction purposes. The bark is rich in tannin. 

 For reforestation in China the European larch, Larix larix (Larix europea 

 or L. decidua) and the western American species, Larix occidentalis, 

 should be subjected to thorough experimentation. Unfortunately the 

 larches are liable to insect and fungus infestations. The larch blight is 

 caused by a woolly insect (Chermies abietis) which lives upon the fir as 

 an alternate host. The common fungus parasite is Dasyscypha calycina. 

 The larches are propagated most readily by seeds, handled in much the 

 same manner as are the seeds of other conifers. About 60,000 seeds 

 weigh 1 oz. 



The demand for larch lumber for general construction, posts and 

 poles, pillars, and railroad ties, for bridge, house and boat construction, 

 can be met only by the establishment of extensive forests in the northern 

 and western provinces where conditions are favorable for their culture. 



Larix potaninii Batalin. 

 (Hung Hsa) Bed Larch. 



Tree 25 m. tall with fissured, gray-brown bark and spreading 

 horizontal branches. Branchlets pendulous, bright yellow, becoming 

 gray, more or less pubescent. Leaves about 3 cm. long, slightly 4 angled, 

 pointed or obtuse, greenish or gray-green. Staminate flowers about 7 

 mm. long. Pistillate flowers ovoid, with reflexed, later erect bracts. 

 Cones 3.5-4.5 cm. long, cylindrical and symmetrica}, reddish at first, 

 purple at maturity and finally grayish or gray-brown; the scales rounded, 

 the bracts always exserted and pointed. 



Szechuan, Kansu, Shensi and Yunnan. 



This tree is abundant in Western Szechuan where it occurs in 

 company with the birches and the silver firs on the lower slopes; on 

 higher altitudes it forms pure stands. Not far from Tachien Lu in 

 Western Szechuan extensive forests containing individuals measuring 70 

 and 80 feet tall, have been reported. The tree is known as the "Red 

 Fir " to the mountaineers and produces the most valuable timber of any 

 conifer in China. 



