Issued January 10, 1007. 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



FOREST SERVICE Circular 65. 



GIFFORD PINCHOT, Forester. 



FOREST PLANTING LEAFLET. 



NORWAY SPRUCE (Picea excelsa). 



FORM AND SIZE. 



The Norway spruce develops a straight, undivided trunk, with 

 small slender branches which become somewhat drooping in later life. 

 In the open the limbs, extending almost to the ground, form a well- 

 shaped, conical crown. The forest-grown tree retains its conical 

 form, but the crown is much more compact and is restricted to the 

 upper portions of the trunk. 



In size, the Norway spruce is not unlike our red spruce. Trees 80 

 to 100 feet high and 2 to 3 feet in diameter are common in Europe on 

 good situations. 



RANGE. 



This species is not indigenous to North America, but is a native of 

 northern Europe and Asia. It is almost invariably confined to cool, 

 somewhat moist situations. In Europe it ranges from the shores of 

 the Baltic and the lower mountain slopes of Scandinavia to the Alps, 

 where it occurs at an altitude of 6,000 feet. Planting has widely 

 extended the limits of its distribution. It was introduced into Eng- 

 land in the sixteenth century and in the United States has been 

 grown as an ornamental tree for many years. 



The possible planting range in this country is not yet fully known. 

 As a rule it will thrive throughout the entire Northeast and southward 

 at the higher elevations. In the West favorable results have been 

 attained only as far as the eastern part of the prairie region, and then 

 only in the more protected localities. The great field for planting on 

 a large scale is the cut-over land in the North, where the tree serves to 

 provide for a future supply of wood suitable for pulp. It will adapt 

 itself within certain limits to situations similar to those formerly 

 occupied by our spruce forests, and it is in every way a superior tree. 



HABITS AND GROWTH. 



A rich, deep soil is not demanded by the Norway spruce, although it 

 grows more rapidly on the better soils. The tree will grow well in a 

 16769 No. 6507 M 



