SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON NORWAY SPRUCE. 291 



nearly so much as Silver Fir. It is very tender in 

 respect of drought. It is a shade-bearing tree, standing, 

 amongst conifers, next to Silver Fir, though the latter 

 bears considerably more shade. The Beech, also, is 

 more shade-bearing than the\ Spruce. These three 

 species, together with Hornbeam, are the principal 

 shade-bearing timber species of temperate Europe. * 

 Spruce demands moist air to do well; hence, in the 

 centre of its natural home, it prefers north-easterly 

 aspects. It is the least storm-firm species of the trees 

 mentioned in this book. 



Soil. Spruce is satisfied with a shallow soil of 

 middling porosity, which must be at least fresh, and 

 may be moist, or even wet, provided it is not actually 

 swampy and acid. It does not stand inundation, and 

 absolutely avoids dry soils. It is moderately exacting 

 as regards the chemical composition of the soil, and 

 reaches its greatest perfection on loams and shales. 



d. Shape and Development. 



Spruce develops a straight, undivided stem, with 

 thin branches, which become somewhat drooping with 

 advancing age. The crown retains a conical shape 

 throughout life ; in crowded woods it is restricted to 

 the upper third of the stem. Spruce has a shallow 

 root-system. 



Spruce grows at first rather slowly, but faster than 

 Silver Fir; when 10 to 15 years old its height-growth 

 becomes rapid, and it ultimately reaches the greatest 



* See page 118 of Volume I. 



u 2 



