General. The cut for 1912 was 75 million feet approximately. 

 In Canada its importance is great as a source of supply for the prairie 

 provinces. The United States Forest Service recommends a selection 

 system with clear cutting in strips as an alternative. Soil protection is 

 necessary because of the shallow root system. 



PICEA SITCHENSIS, (Bong.) Trautv. and Mayer. 

 Sitka Spruce. Tideland Spruce. 



Size. Largest of all spruces; average 100 ft. by 3 to 4 ft. Maximum 

 200 ft. by 10 to 15 ft. 



Growth. Rapid after first few years (overtakes hemlock) and is 

 persistent. Age up to 800 years. 



Root System. Spreading and shallow. 



Bole. Tapering, swell-butted, branchy. 



Crown. Pyramidal, two-thirds of the stem. Fairly dense. 



Tolerance. Tolerant, but less so than the giant arborvitae and 

 the hemlocks. Very tolerant in youth but less so in later life. Forms 

 dense stands; competes with hemlock. 



Wood. Light, weak, soft, straight grained, clear. 



Reproduction. Prolific seeder with heavy seed years every 2 to 3 

 years. Flowers in the spring; cones mature and shed seed in the early 

 fall. Seed small winged, wind-scattered; germination percent high; 

 vitality persistent. Seed beds wet soil, muck, moss, duff, etc. Seed- 

 lings frost tender for the first few years only. 



Range. Pacific coast from northern California to the base of the 

 Alaskan peninsula, 1300 miles. Optimum, Puget Sound to middle 

 British Columbia. On the islands and coast inland it averages 50 miles 

 to the western slope coast mountains. Sea-level to 3000 feet. (5000 

 feet maximum in Alaska.) Farther north and west in Alaska than any 

 other Pacific coast forest tree, and higher in Alaska and British Columbia 

 than in Washington or Oregon. 



Climate. Temperature chiefly mild and uniform (Japan Current), 

 and above zero, but 35 below zero in Alaska. Precipitation heavy, 20 

 inches in California to 100 inches in Alaska. Humidity high. 



Soil. Generally in moist coast alluvial and sandy bottoms and 

 moist sea facing slopes. Deficient moisture occasions stunted growth. 



Association. Pure forests, especially in the north; also mixed 

 forests, chiefly with Tsuga heterophylla (Alaska), also with redwood, 

 Thuja plicata, Abies grandis, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Taxus, 

 Tsuga mertensiana, Alnus, Populus trichocarpa, Acer, and Salix. 



General. Commercial importance medium; wood good; growth 

 rapid; supply large and easily accessible. Clear cutting in strips re- 

 commended. 



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