21 



WHITE SPRUCE. 



White spruce extends as far north on the American continent as any 

 other commercial tree. It is the largest, hardiest, handsomest, and 

 most valuable of the spruces of the North and East. In the region of 

 the Black Hills it frequently reaches a height of 100 feet. It produces 

 a single stem and a full, symmetrical crown, with a dense, bluish-green 

 foliage. The wood is stronger, tougher, and more elastic than pine. 

 It is used for pulp, lumber, posts, poles, and ties. 



While the other spruces usually grow in swamps, white spruce more 

 often grows upon drier upland situations. In Manitoba it extends to 

 the border of the treeless plains. On account of its dense foliage, its 

 rapid growth, its hardiness, longevity, and usefulness for protective 

 and commercial purposes, it is regarded as one of the most valuable 

 trees for the prairie. 



Being a heavy shader and shade bearer, it can supply a long- felt 

 want as a proper tree to mix with thin-foliaged, light-demanding 

 trees. Groves which are maturing or deteriorating should be prompt- 

 ly underplanted with this valuable tree instead of allowing weeds to 

 grow. When the shorter-lived trees are removed, spruce is there to 

 take their place. 



AUSTRIAN PINE. 



Austrian pine is native to southern Europe, where, under the most 

 favorable conditions, it reaches a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 

 3 feet. More generally it does not exceed 75 feet in height. Its wood 

 is light, highly resinous, and durable. 



It produces a straight stem, a strong taproot, and a dense crown of 

 stout branches symmetrically arranged. Its foliage is darker, denser, 

 and coarser than that of Scotch pine, and is often crowded toward 

 the ends of the branches. 



In Europe it is considered the hardiest and most easily satisfied of 

 forest trees. It is less light demanding than Scotch pine, but its 

 growth is considerably slower, especially so during the early years of 

 its life. Dry air and dry situations are preferred provided the soil is 

 deep and porous. In this region it is frost hardy as far north as 

 Montevideo, Minn. At Grand Eapids, where Scotch and Austrian 

 pines were planted by the Division of Forestry in 1898, all but 5 per 

 cent of the Austrian pines died from extreme cold, while none of the 

 Scotch pines suffered in this way. 



OTHEB CONIFERS. 



Red cedar is also drought resistant, but its growth is slow and its 

 foliage is liable to turn brown and die from the effects of "cedar 

 apple " fungus. Arborvitse makes a dense, low windbreak, but its 

 growth is exceedingly slow. The same is true of black spruce. 



[Cir. 145] 



