EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. * 473 



NORWAY (SPRUCE 



Norway spruce, while not a native of this country, has been very ex- 

 tensively planted, chiefly for ornament. It is a fast growing tree and 

 the wood is valuable for paper pulp. It does well on nearly all soils, ex- 

 cept clay or very dry soils. It forms a dense, persistent crown, and is 

 therefore suitable for windbreaks. It is used for Christmas trees and is 

 the best tree to plant for this purpose. It reaches Christmas tree size 

 in 5 or 6 years if small transplants are used for planting. It may often 

 be used with advantage as a filler in plantations of other species and 

 at the end of a few years be cut out and sold for Christmas trees. Four- 

 year-old transplants are best. A close spacing, about 4 by 4 feet, is 

 necessary in order to make the trees prune themselves and, if timber 

 production is desired, it is advisable to cut off the lower branches 

 when the trees are about 15 feet tall. 



WHITE AlSe 



White ash is one of the faster growing hardwoods which produce 

 valuable lumber. It does well on the better soils, where it may be mixed 

 with pines or other species. It makes good fence posts if treated with 

 preservative. It is probably better to plant it in mixture with other 

 species than by itself. A close spacing, about 4 by 4 feet is best, as 

 otherwise the tree tends to become crooked. 

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ISILVEIR aHAiPLE 



Silver maple grows rapidly but is short-lived and is of little value at 

 present. As fence posts become scarcer, however, non-durable wo^od of 

 fast growing species will undoubtedly be used and treated with creosote 

 or wood preservative in order to lengthen its life. Silver maple will be 

 a good tree for such use. It grows best on moist soils. It is used chiefly 

 where a rapid growing shade tree is desired, but even then it is rather 

 undesirable. A spacing of about G by 8 feet is advisable for forest 

 plantations. 



SUGAR MAPLE 



Sugar maple has been planted to some extent in Michigan for sugar 

 bushes and woodlots. It does well on any good soil but it grows rather 

 slowly and takes a good many years to reach merchantable size. It is an 

 excellent tree for roadside or street planting where good sized stock can 

 be used. For timber production a spacing of 6 by G feet is advisable in 

 order to make the trees prune themselves. For sugar bushes a spacing 

 of 10 by 10 feet is better. Sugar maple may be planted in small openings 

 in existing woodlots where it is desired to increase the percentage of this 

 species. Many sugar bushes could be improved in this manner. 



CATAIiPA 



Catalpa will succeed in the southern part of the State but is subject 

 to frost injury further north. It will grow on moist, well drained, fertile 

 soil. Under favorable conditions it grows rapidly and the wood makes 

 durable fence posts. It does not reach large size and requires pruning 

 in order to make a straight stem. The seed should be soaked for twenty- 

 four hours in water before planting. It should be planted only in the 



