TSUGA, The Hemlocks. 



Growth. Slow but persistent. Fairly long lived. 



Root System. Shallow. 



Tolerance. Very tolerant. 



Range. Middle Temperate Zone. 



Soil. Mesophytic. 



Association. Occurs singly and in groups. 



General. There are 7 species of which 4 are in the United States, 

 and 3 in Canada. The hemlocks were fourth in the Canadian lumber cut 

 of 1912 with 7.5% of the total; average price $13.45 per thousand feet. 

 In pulpwood it ranked least and cheapest with 0.2 of the total, average 

 value $5.18 per cord. In the United States the hemlocks are estimated 

 at 175 billion feet or 7.1% (chiefly eastern hemlock) of the total lumber 

 cut, with an average mill price of $13.85. Of the domestic pulpwood 

 about 15% was hemlock. Of the 1,200,000 cords of tanbark 2/3 was 

 hemlock. 



TSUGA CANADENSIS, (Linn.) Carr. 

 Eastern Hemlock. Hemlock Spruce. Spruce Pine. 



Size. Average 60 to 70 ft. by 2 ft. Maximum 130 ft. by 4 ft. 



Growth. Slow but persistent. 186 trees in Michigan grew 10 

 inches in 120 years, and 20 inches in 220 years. 124 trees in North 

 Carolina made the same growth in 96 and 218 years respectively. Life 

 over 500 years. 



Root System. Heart. 



Bole. Often irregular; taper great. 



Crown. Spreading. 



Tolerance. Tolerant, especially the seedlings. 



Reproduction. Very prolific seeder with heavy seed years at 

 frequent intervals. Cones mature by September and shed seeds rapidly 

 through September. Seeds small, light, winged; germination percent 

 medium; vitality moderate. Germinates well on moist litter, decaying 

 logs, etc. 



Range. Eastern United States and Canada. Northern limit, 

 Nova Scotia to Quebec City to Lake Temiskaming to a point about 100 

 miles to the west of Sault Ste. Marie. Southern limit, Delaware to 

 Minnesota, south in the mountains. Optimum about Pennsylvania. 

 Altitude, medium to low in the north and in the mountains to the south. 



Soil. Soil rich; two sites, moist and deep, and dry and shallow; 

 at its best on the moist and deep site. Mesophytic. 



Association. Rarely in pure stands; generally mixed with hard- 

 woods, spruce, and white pine. 



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