48 



The Wood'. The wood is light, soft, non-resinous and mod- 

 erately durable. It has been little used in this country because 

 it has not been extensively planted for commercial purposes. 

 In Europe it is used very commonly for lumber, paper pulp, 

 and fuel. Because of the persistence of the side branches even 

 in a dense stand, the lumber is generally knotty. 



Planting; The Norway spruce is one of the most effi- 

 cient of the trees used for windbreaks in Iowa. It has a rather 

 dense foliage and the branches remain intact for a number of 

 years, even in a relatively dense shade. Space the trees about 

 10 by 14 feet apart, when so placed, a \ery affective windbreak 

 is produced in a few years. A desirable combination is to alter- 

 nate rows of white cedar and Nor^vay spruce. 



For commercial planting, an 8x8 foot spacing is desirable. 

 The presence of side branches on trees grown in an open stand, 

 decreases the technical value of the lumber produced. Three 

 to five year-old transplanted stock is proper for windbreak or 

 woodlot planting. Because of the compact root system the 

 trees are easily handled in the planting operation. 



For lawns, the Norway spruce is one of the most beautiful 

 trees available for Iowa. The drooping branchlets on trees 

 thirty to forty years old make them very attractive. 



The tree is suitable for planting in all portions of Iowa 

 except the drier, more exposed localities in the northwestern 

 part. 



RED CEDAR (JUNIPER) ( Juniperus virciiniava ) 



The Tree'. The red cedar is one of the most widely dis- 

 tributed of the American evergreen trees. It is native to Iowa 

 and has in the past been found in considerable quantities along 

 the rivers in the eastern part of the state. The native timber 

 has been cut for fence posts and few of the original trees re- 

 main. Open grown trees on good soil are spire shaped while 

 those grown on exposed , wind swept situations are more 

 scrubby and irregular in growth. It is one of the least exact- 

 ing of the American trees in regard to soil and climate condi- 

 tions. It is found on soils ranging from the best to those of 

 poor quality in the semi-arid regions of the country. On wet 

 soils the growth is retarded. The tree seldom attains a height 

 greater than 50 feet in Iowa. The crown is less dense and 

 the rapidly tapering trunk is generally more or less fluted at 

 the base. Full sunlight is required for best development, al- 

 though the trees in central Iowa make a height growth of 25 to 

 35 feet in 30 years. It is classed as a strong grower. In native 

 groves the trees reproduce under the shade of broadleaf trees. 



