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TAMARACK (Larix laricina). 



Tamarack is a straight, slender, rapid-growing tree. Under favor- 

 able conditions it has been known to attain a height of 45 feet in 

 thirty years, and at forty-five years after planting should be about 

 60 feet high, with a diameter of at least 18 inches. 



No large commercial plantations of the tamarack are known to 

 exist, and its use has thus far been limited to ornamental planting. 

 The tree is well worth a trial, however, and plantations should prove 

 profitable in many localities throughout the region. 



The wood resembles that of re<J pine, but is somewhat stronger and 

 stiffer. It is durable in contact with the soil, and is used for fence 

 posts, ties, telegraph and telephone poles, and in the manufacture of 

 canoes. 



Tamarack thrives best on rich, moist, alluvial loam. Three-year- 

 old transplants are suitable for planting. They may be planted in 

 pure stands, but mixtures are advisable, with such species as white 

 pine, sugar maple, and red oak. 



Tamarack is one of the few species which will endure cold wet 

 situations, but to plant it for profit on swampy lands is impracticable. 



NORWAY SPRUCE (Picea ezcelsa). 



Norway spruce, an introduced species, has been planted over a wide 

 area in the United States. It is more rapid in growth than our native 

 spruce and is well adapted for planting for pulpwood on cut-over 

 lands of the Northeast. It will adapt itself, within certain limits, 

 to situations formerly occupied by our spruce forests, and it is in 

 many respects a superior tree. 



In the United States little use has so far been made of Norway 

 spruce. The timber is light, soft, nonresinous, and fairly durable. 

 It works well, splits easily, and seasons without serious warping. 

 Abroad, its largest uses are for construction timber, fuel, and paper 

 pulp. Its utility for the last purpose should lead to extensive com- 

 mercial planting in this country. The timber may also be used for 

 general construction purposes as a substitute for white pine. It is 

 very suitable for windbreaks and may be planted as a protection 

 belt about exposed hardwood groves. 



Norway spruce does not demand a deep, rich soil. It will grow 

 well in a fresh, shallow, moderately porous soil, whether fertile or 

 not, and will thrive in comparatively dry situations. In common 

 with our native spruces, it is shade-enduring and forms dense stands 

 which protect the soil and maintain forest conditions. 



Plantations are best started with 3-year-old trees, one year trans- 



[Cir. 100] 



