T 



Chapter XV 

 THE LARCH 



Family Pinaceae 



HE larch is the only native Northern 



genus of the pine family which loses 



its leaves in winter; all the other 



native genera are evergreens. There is one 



indigenous species, and one from Europe which 



is cultivated even more commonly than the 



American tree. 



American A large tree, 50 to 100 feet high. 



Larch ; Tama- The bark is rough with small, flat 



rack or Hack- , ,7,, , ,i-lj j 



matack scales. 1 ne stems are ptiaotc, and. 



Larix larcina ^yQ covered witli knobby buds. The 

 cones are small, not more than half an inch long. 



In Massachusetts the larch does not attain 

 a great height, but in cold Northern swamps it 

 grows to be a large tree. It is not dependent 

 on a wet situation, but grows well after being 

 transplanted into upland soil. Its growth is 

 rapid, and it is often chosen for " quick ef- 

 fects " in landscape gardening, — a choice which 

 is to be regretted for the most part, as few 

 trees have so little beauty as the larch. 



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