196 FOREST TREES. 
slit is made in the ground, the roots of the plant 
carefully inserted, and the ground trod firmly around 
them. Care must be taken to keep down all vegeta- 
tion likely to interfere with the growth of the young 
trees. Planting must be done early in the spring 
before the leaves begin to appear. The Larch puts 
forth its leaves earlier than most other trees, and suf- 
fers more than any other by being removed after it 
has begun to grow. 
Unlike evergreen Coniferous trees, both the Euro- 
pean and American Larch may be safely planted in 
autumn. Probably in most places south of latitude 
40°, and in many localities north of that parallel, fall 
planting would be preferable. Especially is it worth 
trial on the arid plains towards the Rocky Mountains, 
where fall-planted trees would be in better condition 
to resist the heat and dryness of the ensuing summer 
than those set in the spring. The only objection to 
fall planting is that in certain soils, in some seasons, 
the young trees are liable to be drawn out of the 
ground by frosts during the winter. Where this is 
likely to occur, fall planting had better be avoided. 
When trees are set in autumn, the soil, if very dry, 
should be moistened and trod firmly over the roots. 
Young trees are most likely to be drawn out on level 
lands, having a retentive subsoil, in seasons when the 
ground is saturated with moisture. 
The Larch, when small, will sometimes take a 
spreading or straggling form, expending its whole 
growth in the production of horizontal branches. In 
such cases it is necessary to prune severely, cutting 
