LARCH. Lath.. A class of trees having the general characteristics of the Coniferw, except in the loss of the evergreen character, the family being strictly deciduous. When raised from seed the young plants hold their leaves for two, sometimes three years, and thereafter become deciduous, dropping their leaves and remaining bare during the winter. The larches, however, are treated precisely like evergreens, are subject to the same rules in transplanting, and in the effects to be produced upon the landscape. The species are few. The American Black Larch and the European Larch will serve as the types of the species. The European Larch for all purposes of ornament and excellence is the variety now generally planted. The wood is firro, very lasting, of tolerably quick growth, and has the peculiar quality of resisting fire. The tree is handsome in its drooping foliage and one of the roost picturesque of trees in age, being especially adapted to planting on promontories, rocky places, gorges, etc. The best situation for the larch is sound land where the roots will not be drowned in winter nor suffer with drought in summer. The whole family are natives of cold climates and mountainous districts of Europe, Asia, and America. When planted in proper situations, the larch is a fast growing tree, but if transplanted should be done early in the spring, since tbe buds are apt to start with the first few warm days. The best way to handle larch is to transplant in the fall after the leaves have dropped, and protect the first winter with mulch and staking. Besides the European and Ameri
can Larch, the Dahurian Larch may be men tioned, growing well up into the colder regions of Siberia. It seems nearly allied, according to the description of it by European writers, with the European Larch. In the colder regions of Siberia, it is a mere shrub, but further south becomes a large tree, with irregular, twisted, drooping branches. The Sikkim 'Larch, a native Bhotan, Sikkim, and Nepal, an inelegant, sprawling branched tree, says Dr. Hooker, with the brandies standing out awkwardly, and often drooping suddenly. In the autumn, the foliage is said to change to a bright red, forming a fine contrast to other trees. In the -Altai mountains, of Siberia, is found the Altaian Larch, similar to the common larch, but with smaller cones, a strong growing tree, luxuriant, with large leaves and pendulous habits. The Western Larch (Larix oceiclentalis) found on the western slopes of the Rocky mountains, aud thence toward Oregon. That the larch is a valuable tree for planting upon the soils we have described there is no doubt. That it is altogether unsuited to that class of prairie soils that are light and fluffy and subject to be wet in the winter and spring, is quite as evident. The evidence in regard to the success of planting on the western plains is conflicting, but the weight of testimony so far would seem to be that it is a valuable tree for planting.