210 FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



Spruce is the most prominent tree, composing fifty to seventy- 

 five per cent of the growth. With the spruce, balsam is usually 

 associated, and two hardwoods may be found, the yellow birch 

 and the paper birch. Hemlock occasionally occurs. 



The timber is not of such poor character as might be inferred 

 from the quality of the site, as spruce thrives in amazingly poor 



By permission of the U. 5. Forest Service. 

 Fig. 70. — The upper slope type. Here the forest changes into stands of unmerchantable 

 material growing smaller as the slope is ascended. Notice moss covered bark indicating 

 great age. 



situations. Usually the timber grows in thick stands with long, 

 clear boles of smaller diameter than on the hardwood land, but 

 still of good quality. 



The heaviest stands of spruce in the region are found in the 

 spruce slope type. Exceptional single acres sometimes run as 

 high as 40,000 feet, board measure, but for a tract of any size a 

 yield of 10,000 feet, board measure, per acre is excellent. On 

 good sites it is the most productive of the four permanent types. 



