ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 



5°i 



rather loose growth, and the drooping branchlets and small leaves 

 are of a rich green colour. 



Larix (Larches). — L. europad is one of the most charming of 

 trees. Besides being one of the hardiest, it is perhaps the least 

 fastidious of all Conifers, as far as soil is concerned, as it 

 flourishes in poor as well as in rich soil. Its long, straight stem, 

 8oft. or more in height, and rather short branches, with clusters 

 of narrow light green 

 leaves, form a beauti- 

 ful picture in early 

 spring against the 

 sky. It is of ex- 

 tremely, elegant 

 growth, and with 

 age its branches 

 have a decided 

 drooping tendency, 

 which imparts addi- 

 tional beauty. 

 L. e. rossica is 

 more compact 

 than the type, 

 vigorous, free 

 in growth, and 

 of graceful 

 habit. L. e. 

 sibirica (£. 

 archangelicd) 

 is a much- 

 branched vari- 

 ety, having stout hori- 

 zontal branches, and nu- 

 merous drooping branch- 

 lets clothed with rich 

 green leaves. 



L. Griffithii bears some 

 resemblance to the Com- 

 mon Larch, but differs 

 from that species in its 

 slenderer habit and longer 

 erect cones. It is a Hima- 

 layan species, introduced 



about fifty years ago, and succeeds best when planted in rich 

 soil and shielded from cold, piercing winds. 



The Larch is readily ificreased from seed, which should, 

 however, be gathered from healthy, vigorous trees, as seed taken 

 from sickly ones generally produces weakly trees, which are apt 

 to suffer from the terrible Larch disease, once so common, but 



Fig. 318. — Libocedrus chilensis. 



