28 



Native Trees of Canada 



The spruces can be readily distinguished from all other evergreens by their 

 leaves which are sharp-pointed and, with two exceptions, four-sided in cross-sec- 

 tion. They are single and stemless, and each is borne on a tiny projection on the 

 bark of the twig. In arrangement they are not distinctly two-ranked, as is the 

 rule with the hemlocks and firs, but either bristle out from all sides or, on horizontal 

 branches, are twisted and crowded densely towards the upper side of the twig. 



The Norway spruce (Picea excelsa), a native of Europe, is extensively planted 

 on this continent for ornamental purposes. It can be readily distinguished from 

 our native spruces by its twigs and small branches, which have a decided tendency 

 to droop, and by its cones, which are considerably longer i to 5 in. 



The wood of the different species is very similar. It resembles that of the 

 soft pines, but is lighter in colour, less durable, has a finer grain and is tasteless 

 and non-resinous. Generally speaking the main uses of the spruces are for lum- 

 ber, dimension timber, and pulp. 



PICEA MARIANA (Mill.) B. S. P. BLACK SPRUCE 



Common names: Black spruce, red spruce*, double spruce, water 



spruce, swamp spruce. 

 French names: Epinette noire, epinette jaune, epinette batarde, 



epinette rouge*, sapinette noire (France), sapin noir. 



The height of the black spruce is about 35 to 40 ft. and the diameter from 6 

 to 9 in. At the extreme north of its range it is dwarfed to a mere shrub. 



,^^^^ 



' ' SPRUCE 



m err /a no 



