THE SPRUCES 



WHEN all things concerning our native Spruces are 

 taken into account, there will be found but four of the 

 seven species of sufficient economic importance to justify 

 consideration ; and there are certain features pertaining to 

 these four which render questionable any effort at repro- 

 duction, other than in aiding Nature by leaving a sufficient 

 number of seed trees, by planting seeds where seed trees 

 are absent, and by protecting from fires at all times. But 

 the economic importance of the four species, and their 

 power to reproduce themselves when afforded an opportun- 

 ity, should impel a vigorous effort to bring about so de- 

 sirable a result. Those worthy of consideration are Bed 

 Spruce (Picea rubens)\ White Spruce (Picea canadensis)', 

 Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelniannty, and Tideland 

 Spruce (JPicea sltchensis). 



Until comparatively recent times the Spruces were not 

 very favorably looked upon by lumbermen or consumers, 

 and hence dealers and manufacturers made little effort to 

 put lumber cut from any of them on the market. The con- 

 stantly decreasing supply of Pine, however, caused more 

 attention to be paid to other conifers, and it was then dis- 

 covered that for many purposes Spruce serves as well as 

 the coarser grades of Pine and for some uses better. About 

 the same time that its good qualities as a timber tree were 

 discovered, it was likewise learned that it was extremely 

 valuable for pulp wood; that only Poplar commonly 

 called Trembling Aspen was superior to it for that pur- 

 pose. Then the destruction of the Spruce forests in the 

 eastern United States was begun in good earnest and it has 

 since been carried on with accelerating speed and thorough- 

 ness; and unless something is done to arrest that destruc- 

 tion, the virgin Spruce forests will disappear and the future 



