THE SPRUCE 17 
hardwood lands or Spruce slopes, on swamp lands, or 
on the intermediate Spruce flats. Occasional groups 
of Spruce on the narrow tops of high ridges belong 
also to the latter class. While the character of the 
tree varies according to the situation, yet the Spruce is 
not fastidious, for it occupies all situations and soils; 
the tops of mountains and ridges, abrupt rocky slopes, 
and low wet swamps, as well as good soil. The best 
Spruce is found on rich flats or moderate slopes with 
rich fresh soil. Any aspect is good if the soil is suita- 
ble. It must not be wet or acid. Thus the largest 
Spruce is found on low moderate slopes, in sheltered 
coves, along the benches or hollows of steep slopes, 
and on rich flats. On low swampy land it is short and 
of slow growth. Spruce of intermediate growth occurs 
on Spruce flats, where the soil is fresh or even moist, 
but not wet. 
Aside from these general considerations, the pres- 
ence or absence of the Spruce in certain places is de- 
termined chiefly by accidental distribution and by the 
struggle with other species for possession of the ground. 
On steep southwestern slopes it is found in great 
abundance, and sometimes almost pure. This is not 
because the soil and aspect are here most favorable to 
the growth of Spruce, but because many of the hard- 
woods will not grow on such rocky, thin soil, and the 
Spruce is thus left almost without competitors. In the 
same way Spruce often predominates on poor, low, 
moist, or even wet, lands, because in such places also 
it is almost without competition. Spruce is then most 
