MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



RED SPRUCE (Picea rubens Sarg.) 



THIS Spruce is common in the western and northern 

 parts of the State, almost always growing in the 

 well-drained soil of uplands or mountain slopes. 



As to habit, its outline is narrowly conical in youth 

 and middle age, and frequently irregular and pictur- 

 esque in old age. It is a medium -sized tree, commonly 

 reaching a height of forty to fifty feet and acquiring 

 a diameter of one to two feet. The trunk is straight 

 and tapers very slowly. The branches are rathfer long, 

 frequently slightly pendulous, clothe the stem nearly 

 to the ground and persist for a long time. 



The bark is red-brown and broken into irregular 

 scales. 



The leaves are about one-half inch in length, dark 

 yellow-green and glossy. 



The cones are oblong, one to two inches in length 

 and reddish-brown. 



The wood is light, soft and less durable than Pine 

 when exposed to the action of the weather. It is 

 largely used for building-timber and for clapboards 

 and shingles. Owing to the fact that it imparts no 

 flavor, spruce is used in the manufacture of butter- 

 tubs and boxes. Great quantities are consumed in the 

 pulp mills. 



This species, Professor L. R. Jones of Vermont says, 

 was responsible for the suggestion of the name Green 

 Mountain State to that Commonwealth. 



It is not uncommon for lumbermen to designate this 

 species as Black Spruce, but, as this is the only com- 

 mercial Spruce of importance to Massachusetts, we 

 should readily appropriate the right name, or Red 

 Spruce. 



13 



