18 THE ADIRONDACK SPRUCE 
abundant not necessarily where situation and soil are 
best suited to its development, but in many cases where 
the soil is so poor that no other tree will grow. It is 
most abundant on the brows of ridges, on knolls, steep 
slopes, along the edges of lakes, and often on low 
moist ground. On high land it must contend with the 
numerous and persistent hardwoods, which, in capacity 
to bear shade, in height-growth, and in reproductive 
capacity, are fully equal to it. 
REPRODUCTION 
There are two qualities which enable the Spruce to 
maintain itself in fairly uniform proportion in the 
Adirondack forest. These are its ability to live under 
the heavy crowns of other trees, already referred to, 
and its remarkable power of reproduction. The latter 
depends first of all on the great quantities of seed which 
are produced year by year. The seeds of the Spruce 
are winged, and as they ripen and fall from the cones 
the winds catch and spread them widely throughout 
the forest. In this way the chance to take possession 
of suitable localities can be used whenever it arises. 
For the best reproduction of Spruce a good seed bed 
and a certain amount of light are required. Large 
quantities of seed fall annually which never germinate, 
and thousands of small seedlings perish through the 
lack of proper conditions of light and soil. Where 
there is light enough, Spruce seedlings germinate and 
grow easily on deep Spruce or Pine duff and on heavy 
beds of moss. Thus on Spruce slope seedlings are 
