GROWING GOLD. 



53 



81.) The truth is, that larch grows at a great 

 rate on rich soils, therefore it requires im- 

 pervious shelter, that its leading shoot may 

 be uninjured by the wind. When injury 

 takes place, branches extend themselves from 

 the middle part of the stem, but, at the 

 same time, decay commences in the centre 

 of the lower end. It may have been that 

 the plantations which are now decaying 

 required thinning, but there was certainly no 

 occasion for the axe to be laid to the root so 

 frequently and extensively. " It wrought 

 destruction where it should have spared." 

 There is ample evidence that many planta- 

 tions have been ruined by premature thin- 

 nings ; amongst others, those belonging to the 

 late Bishop Watson, whose publication at 

 least sanctioned, if he did not originate the 

 baneful practice. Of this fact I was in- 

 formed by a gentleman who has a brother 

 living in the neighbourhood. There is also 

 some reason to doubt whether the kinds of 

 trees which grow to so great a height will 

 arrive at maturity on situations where they 



