26 
FORESTS OF WISCONSIN. 
SPRUCE. 
Spruce occurs scattered throughout the moister loam land 
districts, especially of the northern and eastern part of this terri¬ 
tory, but is more commonly restricted to the swamp and semi¬ 
swamp areas. On many of the poor moss bogs it forma the only 
tree growth. It is nowhere abundant, form no solid bodies, in 
a mere runty shrub or half tree on the moss bog and even on the 
better soils attains a diameter of only about 12 inches with a 
height of 50 feet Trees over 12 inches are the exception, trees 
18 inches and over are rare. It seems to reproduce fairly well, 
endures shade but seems sensitive to changes in soil moisture, 
thriving only in very moist localities. Being scattered, spruce 
is logged only in a small way, though altogether considerable 
quantities are being cut for pulp and an increase of this cut may 
be expected. 
The total stand of spruce in North Wisconsin may be placed 
at about 1,200,000 cords, including all wood down to 4 inches. 
BALSAM FIR. 
Balsam fir is thinly scattered in most forests of the more hu¬ 
mid loam and clay lands. Like spruce it is often wanting over 
considerable tracts, but few large districts are entirely without 
it. It reproduces well, stands crowding, and endures shade; 
grows fairly well when young and favorably situated, remains 
small, but is never as shortlived as is often supposed. It is gen¬ 
erally less than 12 inches in diameter and below 60 feet in 
height. It never forms large bodies of forest, is little used as yet, 
rarely cut for logs, occasionally for temporary buildings, and of 
late, to some extent, for pulp wood. Being usually left out of 
timber estimates, the amount of standing balsam is not easily 
ascertained. In all forests where balsam fir occurs in commer¬ 
cial quantities the yield per acre was placed at from 2 to 4 M. 
feet B. M. or 4 to 8 cords per 40 acres, an estimate which agrees 
with some estimates made by the Chicago & Northwestern Rail¬ 
way company in Forest and adjoining counties. This figure will 
