186 THE SPRUCES 



a colder climate it would be best to plant it in elevated 

 situations to insure success. Fine specimens, however, may 

 be seen growing in Santa Cruz, California. Throughout 

 the territory named, it grows as rapidly on fairly fertile 

 soil as White Pine, but is not equal to that tree in adapt- 

 ing itself to a great variety of soils and surroundings. In 

 soils largely composed of vegetable matter, as are those of 

 some of the Western States, it makes a vigorous growth at 

 first, but in a few years shows signs of decay, possibly suf- 

 fering for want of certain mineral food or, more likely, 

 from over-stimulation. Neither can it endure a very dry or 

 very sterile soil. In its native home in Europe it is found 

 growing in the valleys and well up the mountain-sides 

 towards the snow line, but diminishing in size and vigor as 

 it ascends. While its ripened wood is of ironclad hardi- 

 ness, it occasionally gets caught in this country by late 

 spring frosts, as it starts to grow early and the new shoots 

 are tender. 



Like all the Spruces, its crown takes on a pyramidal form, 

 though not so acutely as some of our native Spruces. If 

 grown in the open, it throws out a broad base at the ground, 

 yet its lines will converge to a sharp apex at the top, which 

 is surmounted by a naked leader of the present year's 

 growth. It is much given to developing limbs between the 

 annual whorls. When crowded, its lower limbs die quickly 

 and drop off, as it is light-demanding, but if allowed to 

 become large they will adhere and cause knotty lumber; 

 hence crowding should begin early and be kept up until 

 the tree attains its height growth. When grown in the 

 forest, it maintains the conical form of crown, but much 

 shortened. If properly crowded in early life, it may de- 

 velop a clean stem for one half or more of its height, but, 

 like our native Spruces, some of the limbs next below the 

 live ones will persist in adhering. The stem is straight and 

 of slight and even taper, and there are seldom any large 

 or specialized limbs. 



The wood is close and straight-grained and strong, but 



