332 Proceedings Portland Society Natural History 



story in nearly all woods. If the hardwoods are removed 

 anywhere the spruce at once begins to grow rapidly to full 

 size. 



Quercus rubra. The red oak is a prominent member of 

 the deciduous forests, occurring either as individuals or in 

 pure stands. It is often associated with white pine on 

 recently burned or lumbered land. It reproduces well from 

 seed in a light covering of leaves and also sprouts readily 

 from the stump. It is fairly tolerant and so is able to per- 

 sist after the other hardwoods have come in, and as it lives 

 to a great age it is of frequent occurrence in the older 

 stands. 



Tsuga canadensis. The hemlock occurs on deep soil on 

 the lowlands and lower slopes in protected situations. Ma- 

 ture trees are comparatively infrequent for the tree has been 

 very extensively lumbered, and, although reproducing read- 

 ily, growth is very slow. It is, however, very tolerant and 

 the seedlings and young trees are able to flourish even in the 

 dense shade of the climax forest. 



Betula lutea. The yellow birch is very widely distrib- 

 uted, occurring in any sort of soil or location. It is per- 

 haps more frequent on the richer, deeper soils, but owing to 

 its shallow root system, it is also well adapted to thin soils. 

 It seeds abundantly and the seeds can germinate in clear- 

 ings or burned over areas, where the mineral soil is exposed, 

 but the best reproduction occurs in the woods. Because of 

 its tolerance the seedlings can develop readily in the deep- 

 est shade, and as a result the tree is abundant in second 

 growth woods of all sorts. 



Pinus Strobus. The white pine originally was very gen- 

 erally distributed, but it has been more sought after by the 

 lumbermen than any other species and at present no old 

 growth remains in pure stands and very little as isolated 

 individuals in the forests. The tree thrives, however, on all 

 but the driest soil and is a rapid grower where the light con- 



