SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON NORWAY SPRUCE. 293 



i 

 g. Sylvicultural Systems. 



Spruce is treated as high forest under the clear- 

 cutting and shelter- wood systems ; both succeed well, but 

 the former somewhat better. In the case of the shelter- 

 wood systems the mother trees^ are liable to be thrown 

 by storms. For the same reason Spruce is not suited for 

 standards. 



Spruce is treated under a rotation of 60 to 120 years. 

 It makes excellent hedges, and is also much grown for 

 wind-breaks along the edges of woods. 



h. Formation of Woods. 



Spruce woods can be formed naturally or artificially, 

 the latter method being more practised. Under ordinary 

 circumstances it does not require shelter when planted. 



The seed ripens in October, and falls towards spring, 

 the cones remaining on the tree for some time afterwards. 

 It preserves its germinating power for 3 to 5 years. Of 

 good seed 75 per cent, should germinate. One pound of 

 seed contains about 65,000 clean grains. Direct sowings 

 should be made in spring; the seeds should receive a 

 covering of J-inch of soil ; they germinate after 3 to 5 

 weeks. About 10 pounds of clean seed per acre are 

 required for broadcast sowings. 



Sowings in nurseries may be done broadcast or in 

 drills. British nurserymen prefer the former, sowing 

 about *6 of a pound of seed per 100 square feet of seed- 

 bed. The seedlings can be pricked out when one year 

 old, but they are generally left two years in the seed- 

 bed ; after they have stood for two years in nursery 



