294 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



lines they are put out into the forest ; frequently they 

 are left 3 years. 



On the Continent, Spruce is planted in a variety of 

 ways; as seedlings, with or without balls of earth, or 

 as transplants; either one plant may be placed into 

 each planting spot, or sometimes several plants are put 

 together, so-called lunch-planting ; the latter method is 

 now little followed. 



Natural regeneration is effected both under shelter- 

 woods, and on clear cuttings the seed coming from ad- 

 joining woods. If under a shelter-wood, the seeding 

 cutting is made fairly strong, and the final stage is short 

 as compared with Beech and Silver Fir, because the 

 young trees do not require so much shelter and are less 

 shade-bearing, while the mother trees are liable to be 

 thrown by storms after the cover has been interrupted. 



t. Tending. 



Fertility of Soil. Spruce is quite capable of pre- 

 serving the fertility of the soil as long as the cover is 

 not interrupted. 



External Dangers. Spruce is much exposed to 

 dangers. From late frosts it suffers only to a moderate 

 extent, but is very tender as regards dry winds and 

 drought generally. Persistent cold winds also are liable 

 to injure young Spruce. Hence it is essential to keep 

 the edges of Spruce woods as dense as possible. The 

 tree is easily thrown by storms, and it suffers very ex- 

 tensively from snow and rime; either the crown is 

 broken, or whole trees, and groups of trees, are thrown 

 down. 



