EXTRACT. 
237 
facts, that the larch is sometimes liable to he attacked by a white 
insect, Coccus Larixea, which covers the tree like a hoar frost, and 
in some situations threatens the extinction of a plantation and the 
health of neighbouring trees. 
Weak, unhealthy plants, growing in a wet sub-soil, or an exces¬ 
sively shallow barren soil, mere chalk or sand without a mixture of 
vegetable mould, are first visited and longest infected by it. 
ft is, however, almost impossible to say too much in favour of this 
tree. Its timber, whether in the w r ater or in contact with the earth, 
being durable almost beyond conception. 
We may safely conclude, with professor Martyn, that although we 
should be very cautious how we are carried aw r ay by novel ideas and 
upstart practices, however specious; yet, in the abundant evidence 
above cpioted in favour of this tree, there seems sufficient ground for 
decision, and that no time ought to be lost in recommending it to the 
attention of government, and men of property in every district of the 
island, where barren sandy heaths are found.” 
In speaking on the red larch the following account of the culture 
of larch from seed may be selected, “ the larch is raised from seeds 
which most years ripen very well in this country. The cones should 
be gathered about the end of November, and kept in a dry place till 
the spring, when they should be spread on a cloth and exposed to the 
sun, or laid before the fire, which will cause the scales of the cone to 
open and emit their seeds. 
These should be sow^ed in a bed of light earth, covering them 
about half an inch deep with the same mould.* If this bed be netted 
over to keep off the birds, it will be a sure method of preventing them 
from destroying the young plants at their first coming out of the 
ground; at which time they should likewise be screened from the 
sun in the middle of the day, by covering the beds with mats, be¬ 
cause too much sun frequently destroys the plants when they are 
young. In this bed the plants should remain until the following 
spring, when there should be a number of beds prepared in the 
nursery to receive the seedlings. In the beginning of April they 
should be transplanted into the beds, at the distance of six inches, 
row from row, and in the row s at three inches asunder, setting them 
in quincunx order. They should be immediately planted as they 
are drawn up, because their tender roots are soon dried and spoiled 
at this season of the year. This work should be done, if possible, in 
cloudy or rainy weather, and then the plants will soon draw out new 
* This must certainly be a mis-print. The seed should never be covered 
deeper than a quarter of an inch. 
