AMONG THE PINES AND FIRS 223 



Hence even in the north of Scotland, with its 

 more congenial climate, the cultivation of the 

 Norway spruce seems only to be profitable when 

 it is used as an auxiliary for the improved growth 

 of larch and pine, or for underplanting maturing 

 crops of these. 



Its spreading superficial root-system specially 

 fits it to be the tree of the mountains, with their 

 shallow soil and rocky outcrops. So long as it 

 grows in large compact masses, either by itself 

 or along with other trees, the tangled network 

 of roots enables it to offer considerable resist- 

 ance to storms; but once the canopy is broken 

 into freely, or the flank of the high forest is ex- 

 posed to heavy wind, especially when the tree-tops 

 are wet and heavy while the ground is sodden 

 with rain, whole crops can easily be brought to 

 the ground as windfall during heavy gales. 



Like pine and larch, spruce has its own dire 

 enemies in the shape of injurious insects and 

 deadly fungous diseases, evils from which it is 

 best protected by means of admixture with these 

 or other trees. Where soil and climate favour its 

 growth a fresh or moist sandy loam, a cool situa- 

 tion, and rather a humid atmosphere Norway 



