ON CONIFERS. 



335 



of wood, is known as the larch rot, and yet another, also fungoid, 

 kills the bark, but leaves the roots intact. Many millions of 

 trees have been destroyed by these two forms of fungus, and 

 more, no doubt, will follow, that is so long as planters persist 

 in replanting with a second crop of young trees the same ground 

 from which the old decaying stools have not been removed. Prim- 

 ings again left lying about to rot upon the surface of the ground fre- 

 quently produce a fungus which fastens on the living roots of other 

 species, and so insidious is it that Pines, Firs, Cedars, Cypresses, 

 and Junipers fall a prey to its ravages, often dying off suddenly 

 before danger is suspected. The names of these fungi are Poly- 

 phorus destructor, P. abietinus, and P. versicolor. When Conifers 

 are planted in plantations or shrubberies, or in soil containing 

 leaf mould, pieces of dead wood, or the like, they should be closely 

 watched ; and if, after going on well for a time, they suddenly 

 begin to falter, the roots should be closely examined. My Picea 

 Webbiana was saved by washing the roots and dressing with 

 lime, but this was an extreme measure, which could not be 

 carried out where numbers are concerned. Neither, perhaps, is 

 it necessary, as recently I have seen a fine avenue of Picea 

 nobilis saved by repeated top-dressings of quicklime. Sulphur, 

 too, may be used with excellent effect, and choice specimens I 

 would syringe freely with sulphur water, or the roots and tops 

 might receive liberal supplies of a mixture of sulphide of potas- 

 sium, half an oz. to the gallon of water. Another form of disease 

 is the result of planting Conifers in soil containing deleterious 

 matter in a soluble form. Trees planted on the oolite, and 

 sometimes on gravel, notably Abies Douglasii, turn yellow, lose 

 their leaves, and die. This matter, taken up by the roots, I 

 believe, is deposited in the vessels, which it clogs, and completely 

 closes when the sap ceases to flow, or forms the peculiar form of 

 clubbing, as seen in the specimen on the table. If taken in time, 

 Conifers may be saved by the removal of bad soil and draining, but 

 they rarely make good specimens ; at least, this is my experience. 

 Conifers are injured by animals, including hares, rabbits, and 

 squirrels, the first eating the bark, the latter the cones and points 

 of the shoots ; also, they are injured by wounds or cuts when in 

 full growth. An Abies canadensis wounded by a felled tree 

 rolling against it, and tearing off a piece of bark, soon bled to 

 death, and an Araucaria, injured by a piece of wire, first of all 

 made a semblance of forming cones, and eventually died. 



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