26 BULLETIN 153, U..S.. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
others $20). Probably the most important reason for the poor 
returns, however, has been the lack of market for European larch ~ 
telephone or telegraph poles, claimed to be the most valuable form of 
product. For this reason the owners have been unable to’ realize 
any profit from their plantations. In one instance in lowa the owner 
secured from a local farmer’s telephone company $1 each for poles 
6 inches in diameter at the butt and 20 feet long, and $1.50 forshghtly 
larger ones. As a rule, however, there is no demand for the poles, 
and lumber dealers do not handle them. They are considered as no 
more durable than white cedar poles, are much heavier than the 
latter, and the wood is so hard that it is difficult for a hneman to force 
his climbing irons into it. The values assumed for European larch 
poles are much less than those ordinarily received for similar-sized poles 
of other species: 15-foot poles, 20 cents; 20-foot, 30 cents; 25-foot, 
50 cents; 30-foot, 75 cents; 35-foot, $1.25; 40-foot, $2; 45-foot, 
$3; and 50-foot, $4.50. First-class posts 4 to 6 inches in diameter at 
the small end and 7 feet long have been valued at 10 cents each, and 
cordwood at $1 per cord of 90 solid cubic feet. 
European larch is exceedingly intolerant; closely spaced stands 
rapidly thin themselves, and thus do not fully utilized the ground. 
It seems advisable, therefore, to use a wide spacing of 10 by 10 or 
12 by 12 feet, and fill in with some tolerant, sightly more slowly 
growing species, such as white pine, white spruce, or red oak. This 
wider spacing is especially desirable, since larch stock is expensive 
and the initial cost may be considerably reduced by fillimg in with 
a cheaper species. Larch requires a fresh, well-drained, moderately 
heavy soil. It does not do well in light, very sandy soils, or in very 
poorly drained, heavier ones, 
It is not advisable to plant European larch in the New England 
States, because old plantations are now beginning to be attacked 
by the sawfly. In the Middle West it is questionable whether 
European larch would be as profitable if planted on the good soils 
(on which the present plantations stand) as some other species. It 
does not grow as rapidly as certain hardwoods which furnish fully 
as good post material, and it lacks their capacity to send up sprouts. 
Nothing excells it, however, in producing straight timber, and a few 
larch trees trees should be planted on every farm in the Middle West, — 
in order to produce sticks for hay poles, braces, beams, scantlings, 
or other general utility purposes. Larch starts growth very early 
in the spring, and it is difficult to get stock for planting at that time 
which has not already started growth in the nursery. 
