TREES AND THEIR VALUE FOR PLANTING 77 



many soils and situations, it is believed that the white spruce 

 will be an important tree in the future for planting for pulp 

 wood and lumber. In many places it is being planted for this 

 purpose. It is often used for windbreaks. It is readily grown 

 from seed in nurseries and easily handled. After the first 

 few years its growth is fairly rapid. It should be planted in 

 crowded stands, spaced about 4 feet by 4 feet apart. As with 

 the other conifers small seedlings can be purchased from 

 nurserymen and grown for a year or until large enough to 

 set out. On the more favorable sites 3-year-old transplants 

 will be large enough. 



Norway Spruce (Picea excelsa). — This tree is a native of 

 Europe and Asia, but is hardy and grows well in the eastern 

 part of the United States. It has been planted extensively 

 for ornamental purposes and is often seen growing around 

 farm homes and in cemeteries and for windbreaks. In Europe 

 it grows to be a very large tree, often exceeding 125 feet in 

 height and 3 feet in diameter. It grows well on nearly all 

 situations, except a naturally dry soil. It will grow well in a 

 fresh shallow soil, whether fertile or not, and will thrive with 

 moderate amount of moisture. Because of its dense crown 

 it has been planted extensively for windbreaks in the Middle 

 West. The wood is light, soft, splits easily and does not warp. 

 It makes a good construction material, and is used for paper 

 pulp, masts, oars, and many other purposes. Two-year-old 

 seedlings can be purchased from nurserymen and planted for 

 a year or two in the farm nursery before planting. For lumber 

 the trees should be spaced about 4 or 5 feet apart. For wind- 

 breaks a wider spacing is better, often up to 12 feet by 12 

 feet. It is a good tree for underplanting old groves of cotton- 

 wood, walnut or other trees where the canopy is thin, being 

 a tolerant tree. Spruce trees grow slowly for the first few 

 years, but after that period is passed growth is fairly rapid. 

 Trees 30 years of age have often reached 50 to 60 feet in height 

 and 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Because of its being a foreign 



