UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 BULLETIN No. 544 



Contribution from the Forest Service 

 HENRY S. GRAVES, Forester 



Washington, D. C. 



PROFESSIONAL PAPER 



October 31, 1917 



THE RED SPRUCE: 

 ITS GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT 



By 



LOUIS S MURPHY, Forest Examiner 



CONTENTS 



Introduction 1 



Uses of Spruce 1 



Amount and Value of Spruce Cut and Im- 

 ported O 3 



Present Stand of Spruce ....... 7 



Value of Spruce and Spruce Stumpage . 7 



Range and Distribution 10 



Forest Type „ 11 



Second Growth Stands of Spruce ... 14 



Soil and Moisture Requirements ... 14 



Light Requirements 15 



Windfirmness 15 



Reproduction 16 



Form 22 



Length of Life and Maximum Size ... 22 



Susceptibility to Injury 23 



Growth 29 



Stands and Yields 41 



Methods of Cutting 45 



Brush Disposal 59 



Sowing and Planting 64 



Rotation 67 



Appendix 68 



WASHINGTON 



GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 



1917 



