242 Trees for Shade and Ornament 



The best known, most popular, and most planted, because cheap, 

 easily handled, growing most rapidly, and being very beautiful when 

 on satisfactory soils and used with judgment as to situation, is — 



P. excelsa Link. (71), Norway Spruce, a large tree from Europe of 

 greatest economic as well as ornamental value, with its grand sym- 

 metry of graceful, flowing outline, formed by the Gothic arches of 

 branches and often gracefully pendent branchlets, beset with dark green 

 foliage. A very rapid grower, making sometimes three or four feet in 

 a season. In about thirty years it reaches the awkward stage, when 

 lower branches die. This happens earlier in poorer sites, where it is 

 also thinner in foliage, and becomes ragged and open. It is very vari- 

 able and there are in existence a great many forms, dwarf and other- 

 wise, which should be used with discretion. The specimens for plant- 

 ing should be selected from those which have developed the long, pen- 

 dent shoots, for in these consists its beauty when planted in single 

 specimens. For grouping, the stiffer forms may be used. To achieve 

 its best appearance in singleness, not less than thirty feet growing space 

 should be allowed. It is well adapted for windbreaks, screens, and 

 hedges, standing the shearing as well as any species. 



The nearest approach in appearance to the Norway spruce of our 

 northeastern species is — • 



P. rubra Link, (rubens) (72), Red Spruce, the common lumber tree. 

 Although picturesque, it is less ornamental and a very slow grower; a 

 medium-sized tree, less adaptive than the Norway spruce, and so far 

 not often planted. 



Ornamentally, the best species of our Eastern States, with a range to 

 the northwest, is — ■ 



P. alba Link. (73), White Spruce, a medium sized tree and one of our 

 most hardy conifers, retaining its symmetrical form and full branching 

 longer than any other. It is attractive by its cheerful, light bluish- 

 green, rather long, slender foliage. It is adaptive to drouthy condi- 

 tions if collected from proper localities, e.g.. Black Hills; to seashores 

 • and to a variety of soils from dry to swampy. Its compact habit fit it 

 for small places, at points, and in front of groups with darker foliage. 



The only other native spruce suitable for planting is — 



P. pungens Engelm. (74), Blue Spruce, from Colorado and other 

 parts of the Rocky IMountains, noted for its remarkable blue to silvery 

 foliage. It is hardy and adaptive to drouthy conditions. The blue 

 color for which it is prized is not only variously distributed among 



