CHOICE OF SPECIES TO BE PLANTED -521 



is even less important than the black spruce because of its limited 

 occurrence. During the period of exploitation of the present natural 

 forest, red spruce will undoubtedly continue to comprise the bulk of 

 the pulpwood consumed in New England, and it is to the pulping 

 characteristics of this wood that the pulp industry has been adapted. 



Concerning the popular prejudice against white spruce, the basis for 

 which is the claim of lower yields and weaker fiber, it may be well 

 to quote the bulletin - recently published by the Forest Products Labor- 

 atory as follows: "White spruce {Picea caiiadeusis) — Sulphite pulp — 

 Yield 1,030 pounds (per 100 cubic feet solid wood). Eastily bleached, 

 easily pulped, excellent strength, excellent color. Possible uses : White 

 spruce is considered the standard sulphite pulpwood and is used for 

 news, wrapping, high grade printings, etc." 



Without quoting further it is sufficient to say that they also speak 

 highly of white spruce for sulphate and ground wood pulp. It seems 

 probable that in view of the fact that white spruce already constitutes 

 the source of a great deal of the pulp now being produced in Canada 

 and parts of the United States other than New England, and that it 

 is spoken of so highly by the investigation at the Forest Products 

 Laboratory, the prejudice in New England is not well founded. Un- 

 doubtedly under present methods, adapted to cooking red and black 

 spruce, the white spruce does not show up so well, but it seems ex- 

 tremely likely that if white spruce formed the bulk of the wood the 

 cook would be adapted to it and satisfactory results obtained. 



I have so far made no mention of Norway spruce, but since it has 

 been demonstrated that this species will thrive at least to some extent 

 in the North Woods it should be given consideration. That the wood 

 is adapted to the manufacture of pulp of all grades is well known. In 

 Europe it is the standard pulpwood species and produces the very 

 high grade pulps manufactured there. 



ADAPTABIIJTV TO GROWTH CONDITIONS 



.A^daptability to existing growing conditions, the second requirement 

 is sufficiently well met by all the species of spruce mentioned with the 

 exception of the black spruce. The Norway spruce will, it is believed, 

 adapt itself more or less well to practically all conditions, but the black 



" American Pulpwoods : The Suitability of Various Species of American 

 Woods for Pulp and Paper Production. Otto Kress. S. D. Wells, Vance P. 

 Edwards. 



