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FORESTRY INVESTIGATIONS U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



List of one hundred species of trees of the United Mates most valuable for timber, with notes on their range of distribution, 



cultural requirements, and the character and uses of their wood— Continued. 



Name of species and limit of size. 



16. BLACK SPRUCE 



(Picea mariana (Mill.) B. S. P.) . . 



Height, 80 feet; diameter, 

 1| feet +. 



17. WHITE SPEUCE 



(Picea canadensis (Mill.) B. S. P.) 



Height, 100 feet; diameter, 

 l&'foet -f . 



18. ENGELMANN SPPJTCE 



(White Spruce.) 



(Picea engelmannl Engelm.) 



Height, 100 fret + ; diameter, 

 3 feet -|- . 



19. SITKA SPEUCE 



(Tide-land Sprfok.) 



(Picea sitchen&is Carrierc.) 



Jleight, 150 feet \ ; diameter, 

 feet -j-. 



Eegions of abundant growth. 



Soil and climate, and characteristics of growth. 



Mainly northeastern ; forming 

 forests. 



P>est development north of lati- 

 tude 50°. 



Mainly northeastern and extend- 

 ing ' into Rocky Mountains; 

 forming forests. 



Western mountain regions and 

 northward; high elevation. 



Best development in central Eoelcy 

 Mountain region, between 9,0U0 

 and 10,000 feet. 



Alaska and Northwestern coast ,- 

 low elevations. 



Light, dry, stony soils ; much smaller in cold, wet swamps. 

 Rapid grower. 



Like Black Spruce, but probably better adapted to western 

 planting, being hardier. 



Dry, gravelly slopes, 5,000 to 11,500 feet. 



A tree for reforestation of mountain slopes along water courses. 



Moist soil and climate, at least a moist subsoil, shady situ- 

 ations. Jtapid grower. 



Probably hardy in Northeastern and Middle States, in shaded 

 positions. 



1 Includes also the Red Spruce (Picea rubra), this being the principal timber spruce of the region. 



III. Firs.-— Important to forestry mainly on account of their great endurance of shade. Of northern and moun- 

 tain distribution; still more dependent on moisture of climate and cool or at least evenly tempered situations than 

 the spruces, and in their youth mostly less hardy; usually grow slowly, hut persistently. Some exotics seem to he 

 of more value than the native species (Abies nordmanniana). 



Characteristics. — Leaves single, flat, rather blunt, arranged somewhat comb-like on the twigs. Cones cylindrical, 

 standing erect on the branches; scales thin, and falling away when mature; seeds triangular, partly inclosed by a 

 more or less persistent wing; mature first year, but do not preserve their power of germination well. Frequent and 

 abundant seeders. Crown conical. About eighteen species, of which eight are indigenous. 



The name is frequently applied to wood and to trees which are not fir; most commonly to spruce, but also, 

 especially in English markets, to pine. The wood resembles spruce in color, quality, and uses, but is easily distin- 

 guished from it, as well as from pine and larch, by the absence of resin ducts. 



Name of species and limit of size. 



20. WHITE FIE 



(Balsam Fir. Black Balsam.) 



(Abies coiicolor (Gord.) Parry.) 



Height, 100 feot -f ; diameter, 

 4 feet +. 



21. BALSAM FIR 



(Balm op Gilead Fib.) 



(Abies balsamea Miller.) 



Height, 70 feet -|~ ; diameter, 

 11 feet + . 



22. GREAT SILVER PIE. 



(White Fir.) 

 (Abies grandis Lindl.) 



Height, 200 feot; diameter, 

 5 feet + . 



23. NOBLE FIE 



(Abies nobihs Lindl.) 



Height, 200 feet + ; diameter, 

 5 feet -f . 



Eegions of abundant growth. 



Southwestern mountains and Pa- 

 cific slope; high elevations. 



Best development in Sierras of 

 California. 



Northeastern States and north- 

 ward. 



Soil and climate, and characteristics of growth. 



Moist slopes and canyons, between 3,000 and 9,000 feet ; cool and 

 shady situations. 



Northwestern coast. 



Best development in western 

 Washington and Oregon, along 

 river bottoms. 



Northwestern coast; wide range; 

 always near mountain tops and 

 high elevations; found often in 

 groves dispersed through exten- 

 sive forrests. 



Best development in Sierra Nevada, 

 from Columbia Elver to northern 

 California. 



Cold, damp woods and swamps. 



Eapid grower. Valuable only as undergrowth or as nurse, 

 and m imperfectly drained situations. 



Bottom lands ; rich, moist soil. 



Very hardy and rapid grower ; affected less by late frosts and 

 occasional droughts than most lirs. 



Probably hardy east of the Eocky Mountains, with proper 

 protection. 



Eequiring moist atmosphere for best development. 



