SITKA SPRUCE 421 



It is most frequent in plantations from 10 to 30 years of 

 age. 



Polyporus vaporarius attacks the stems through wound 

 surfaces. 



Of Insects. Hylobius abietis ( = the Pine Weevil) gnaws 

 the bark of 2- to /-year-old trees. As mentioned, when 

 dealing with Scots Pine, the fellings should always be inter- 

 mittent, so that neighbouring Spruce areas differ by 6 to 8 

 years. If possible, Spruce should not be planted on areas 

 from which a crop of Spruce or Scots Pine has just been 

 removed. Bark traps should be laid. 



Pissodes notatus ( = the Small Brown Weevil), Hylesinus 

 (or Hylurgus) piniperda ( = the Large Pine Beetle), and 

 Cockchafer grubs, also do much harm. 



Chermes abietis ( = the Spruce gall Aphis), is the sexual 

 form of the sexless Larch Aphis. It attacks young Spruce 

 from about 10 to 20 years of age. The lice suck the sap of 

 the young shoots, and a cone-like gall results. 



SITKA SPRUCE. 



The Sitka Spruce, sometimes known as Menzies Spruce, 

 is native to Sitka Sound and the coast region of British 

 Columbia ; it is said to have been introduced in 1831. 



As to Seed. One pound of seed contains about 197,000 

 seeds, and the germinative capacity is about 70 to 75 per 

 cent. There is every reason to anticipate that home-grown 

 seed will prove equal in every respect to that which is 

 imported ; but great caution is necessary until this be 

 proved by generations of experience. 



The timber of well-grown trees is of excellent quality ; it 

 is soft and white, and may be used for the same purposes as 

 that of Norway Spruce. 



Soil and Situation. Deep soils are essential ; so also 

 is a plentiful supply of moisture, and a damp atmosphere, if 

 its maximum development is to be attained. On very stiff 

 clay soils it shows promise of being one of the most profitable 

 trees that can be planted. It delights in a deep, moist, 



