106 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



thougli it is quite likely to be injured when placed where it is exposed to the 

 strong cold winds of winter. This is especially true of young trees when not 

 protected by trees, hills, buildings or some artificial screens. It is not a tree 

 for swamps, neither will it thrive in very dry situations. It prefers a deep 

 loam in a cool situation. It bears the shears well and is a great favorite for 

 screens and ornamental hedges. S. B. Parsons, than whom no one ought to 

 be better able to Judge, says : "It is safe to assert tliat this is the most beautiful 

 coniferous hardy tree yet known." Josiah Hoops says: "Were I restricted 

 to one tree, I would far rather have a specimen of the hemlock spruce tiian 

 all tlie Deodras and Cryptomerias ever introduced." Meehan says: "It would 

 not be exaggeration to pronounce this the most beautiful evergreen in cultiva- 

 tion." It appears more charming in spring when the light color of the young 

 buds arc in sharp contrast with the older leaves of darker color. Its timber is 

 of little value except as roof boards, scantling, or frames for buildings, where 

 it answers u very good purpose. Tlie bark is valuable for tanning. It is a 

 native of Canada and the northern United States, in many portions of which 

 it is a very common tree, often of great size. It sometimes forms vast forests, 

 though more frequently it is mixed witli pines, maples, beeches and olher trees. 

 No large specimens are found on tlie College grounds, but some of the best 

 small ones are north of the greenhouse. 



SPRUCE NORWAY— .d6te.$ cxcclsa. 



For planting in Michigan and most other northern States, this is the most used 

 of any evergreen. It is well worthy of this leading position as an ornamental 

 tree. It heads the list because it bears transplanting so well, because of its 

 beauty and the rapidity of its growth. It is perfectly hardy and bears trimming 

 into any shape for hedges or for single specimens. For ornamental hedges 

 and especially for large sheltering screens it is the best tree we have. For or- 

 namental purposes, the lower limbs should be left to grow and recline upon the 

 ground. Once cut off close to the trunk they will not be re[)roduced. Old spec- 

 imens in good soil with plenty of room exhibit peculiar beauty in the graceful 

 curves of the longer limbs from which droop the smaller feathery branches. 

 Downing says : "As a park tree to stand alone, we scarcely know a more beau- 

 tiful one." 



There is a remarkable difference in trees growing in the same nursery row, 

 started from the same lot of seed. There are many named varieties, but of 

 those not named, some are stout dark green with dense growth of limbs, others 

 are much lighter with fewer limbs and a mucii n)ore graceful and slender habit. 

 In spring wlien the young shoots have put forth for a few inches, they are strik- 

 ingly beautiful on account of their drooping habit and light color whicli is in 

 deep contrast with the darker color of the older leaves. The young red cones 

 are beautiful. This tree is too often i)lanted near the house or in crowded 

 groups, the owner of the place forgetting that it is destined to become a tall, 

 broad tree. As a consequence, it is much injured or has to be removed in a 

 few years. The timber is said to be more durable than that of our white pine, 

 quite like it and used for similar })urposes. For general use as an ornamental 

 tree we have no evergreen to compare with the Norway s[)ruce. "Neither sun 

 nor cold, drought nor moisture seems to affect it, and it is a tree which will al- 

 ways give satisfaction." It is a native of northern Europe and Asia, and extends 

 faither south on the mountains where it becomes one of the largest and tallest 

 of trees. It is the most common evergreen on the College grounds. A very sleii- 



