204 



A. Norby, Madison, S. D., writes: U I have had the Engle- 

 mann spruce about fifteen years. It is the slowest grower 

 of all the spruces. Compact and fairly hardy. I consider it 

 of little value." 



Douglas Spruce. 



Douglas Spruce. (Pseudotsuga Douglasii, Carr; 

 Pseudotsuga taxifolia, Poir. Br.). This is also called Douglas 

 Fir. Pseudotsuga means false Hemlock. This is a tree in- 

 termediate between the Firs and the Hemlock. Leaves are 

 about one inch long, with a distinct petiole or stalk. The 

 distinguishing characteristic of the tree is the pointed red 

 buds. Native from Mexico and Texas through the Rocky 

 Mountains to California and British Columbia. In Oregon 

 it attains a height of 300 feet. This is one of our most im- 

 portant American forest trees. It is a beautiful and grace- 

 ful ornamental tree and is attracting the attention of Eur- 

 opean foresters owing to its rapid growth. Prof. S. B. Green, 

 writes in "Forestry in Minnesota," "The Douglas spruce is 

 a fine ornamental tree of graceful proportions, good color, 

 rapid growth and wonderful hardiness. Probably one of the 

 most valuable evergreens for general planting in Minnesota, 

 and apparently destined to partly supercede the White and 

 Norway spruce for this purpose. It is also the most promis- 

 ing foreign tree for sowing on the cut-over timber lands of 

 this section, and should be largely experimented with for 

 this purpose." 



Ten years ago a considerable number of Douglas spruce 

 from Colorado were planted at the South Dakota Experiment 

 Station. They proved to be of rapid growth but of uncertain, 

 hardiness, the branches frequently killing back in winter or 

 having the leaves much reddened at the close of the winter. 

 In spite of this repeated killing-back they gain year by year, 

 but as a whole they can not be considered an unqualified 

 success. At their side the White spruce proved entirely 

 hardy. It is probable that much depends upon the source of 



