208 



WEST VIRGINIA EXPERIMENT STATION 



Fig. V. Glimpse in a Dense Spruce Forest. 



where the climate is equal or similar to that of Canada. In- 

 deed, its presence irv mixed or pure forests in the State is an in- 

 fallable index that a Canadian climate prevails, and that the 

 area occupied by it is in the so-called Canadian Life Zone, 

 where other life, both plant and animal, common to a northern 

 latitude may be found. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



It is evident that many thousands of years ago, when the 

 great ice sheet covered the greater part of North America and 

 extended nearly to the Northern border of the West Vir- 

 ginia area, the spruce was widely distributed over the hills and 

 mountains of the State wherever the soil conditions were fav- 

 orable for its growth, but after the ice receded and the climate 



