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IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



gives a very pleasing effect. For ornamental planting, use trees 3 

 to 4 feet high. For the woodlot, transplants 10 to 12 inches high, which 

 are three to four years old, are of a convenient size and more economical. 



NORWAY SPRUCE — (Picea excelsa). 



The Tree: The Norway spruce is not native to North America but 

 has been introduced from northern Europe and Asia. The tree de- 

 velops a straight trunk and a pyramidal crovv^n which becomes rounded 

 at the top as the tree becomes old. In a dense stand the tree retains 

 its pyramidal form but the living portion of the crown is restricted to 

 the upper part of the trunk. The slender branches become more or 

 less pendulous as the tree increases in age, which makes it valuable 

 for ornamental planting. The tree reaches a good size in Iowa even 

 on upland soil. For the higher situations where there is plenty of 

 moisture, this spruce is much more valuable than the white or Black 

 Hills variety, due to its more rapid and thrifty growth. This species 

 will not endure a very dry soil but will thrive on one of moderate 

 fertility if surface moisture is available for the shallow root system. 



Fig-. 12. — The Norway is tlie most desirable 

 spruce for windbreak and shelterbelt planting in 

 Iowa. Open grown trees are very desirable for 

 lawn planting. 



