2 BULLETIN 544, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
England, the Continent of Europe, and the West Indies, where it was 
classed as a construction timber. Not until considerably later, 
however, did it assume a place of importance in the general market 
for carpentry and building use. When the supply of virgin white 
pine in New England declined, spruce was turned to as a substitute. 
Since 1840 the use of spruce as a lumber wood has steadily increased 
both in the domestic and foreign markets. Its rise as a raw material 
in the production of paper dates from about 1870 to 1875, although 
it was not until 1890 or 1895 that its consumption for this purpose 
became very important. 
The most extensive single use to which spruce is put now is the 
making of paper, news stock, principally. Fully half the annual cut 
of red spruce is consumed by the paper industry. 
Spruce is widely used in building and rough construction work, 
particularly where it is not exposed to the weather. In floors it 
wears better than white pine, but is inferior to many of the hard- 
woods. It retains its natural color when finished better than white 
pine, and it takes paint well. As interior finish it is employed for 
stair work, ceiling, and door, sash, and casing material. It also is 
made into shingles, siding, and laths, but as shingle material is con- 
sidered inferior to many other woods. Large quantities are cut into 
joists, large dimension stuff, and car stock, since for its weight it is 
one of the strongest woods on the market. After being given pre- 
servative treatment to hinder decay it is employed for wharf and 
bridge piles, railroad ties, posts, and poles. 
On account of the resonant quality of the wood, its even structure, 
the absence of vessels, the extremely fine and regularly distributed 
medullary rays, and the straight and long fibers spruce is generally 
considered to be the best wood for piano sounding boards, as well 
as for wooden musical instruments generally. For this purpose the 
wood must be of selected quality. It must be straight fibered and 
free from knots, and must have narrow and uniform rings and but 
little resin. 
Spruce belongs to the class of tasteless woods, and for that reason 
is extensively used for containers in which articles of food are packed 
or handled, such as tubs, firkins, butterworkers, churns, fish barrels, 
and boxes and crates for vegetables and fruit. It is likewise in 
demand for boxes in which cans and bottles of salad and other table 
oils are packed for shipment. 
Recently spruce has come into general use in the manufacture of 
airplanes. The wood meets satisfactorily the requirements of this 
industry, which demands lightness combined with strength and, 
above all, reliability, including freedom from hidden defects. It is 
used both for the upright posts and the general framework. 
