Larches 229 
Fir, is one of the most important, large timber trees of the West, with a 
wide range, from the arid slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Mexico 
and Arizona to the humid shores of the Pacific in British Columbia. 
For eastern planting it is most important to secure plant material from 
the proper region (high northern slopes of eastern Rocky Mountains) 
in order to secure hardiness. For lack of proper selection of seed, 
many failures in all points for which the species is famous have occurred. 
Otherwise it is one of the finest conifers, rivaling the hemlocks which 
it resembles in the pendulous habit of its branchlets and in its flexible 
foliage, while in the greater length of the latter it resembles the firs 
(but its purple bud is the sure mark of distinction). Its pendent cones 
with trident bracts extending from under the scales add to its interest 
and beauty. It varies greatly in pendulousness and in length and color 
of the foliage, which sometimes is as silvery blue as the blue spruce. 
The mountain form is best, hence selection is necessary. It is adaptive 
to all soils, but prefers lighter ones. In suitable localities it is one of 
the most rapid-growing conifers, and easily transplanted, being shallow- 
rooted like the spruce and, also like the latter, tolerant of shade. To 
emphasize its beauty it is best planted in single trees. 
P. macrocarpa Lemmon. (42 bis), a species lately differentiated from 
the former, comes from southern California, and hence is not fit for 
eastern planting, at least not in the North. 
LARCHES 
Larix and Pseudolarix. Ten species of tall and medium-sized trees, 
of northern and alpine range. What the white birch represents among 
the broad-leaved trees, the larch represents among the conifers, namely, 
the elements of delicate feminine grace, especially when the soft feathery 
light green foliage of earliest spring appears on the small protuberances 
or spurs of the slender branches. It is the first tree to leaf out (these 
being deciduous-leaved conifers), turning into golden yellow autumn 
tints, and adding beauty by the cones, which are purple red when young. 
The branch system is slender, sometimes pendulous; its conical outline 
is often straggling and not very beautiful, but if placed against a bold 
background is striking and picturesque with its spiry top. They are 
very rapid growers and most light-needing, and hence fit only for open, 
sunny positions. Unfortunately they are subject to insects (leaf miners) 
and fungus diseases. They should be used with greatest discretion 
