Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-03-18
SPRUCE.
ASH, AND WILLOW.
1For the SPECTATOR

L Il II " L 4 N
ASH, AND WILLOW.
For the SPECTATOR.
DEAR Col. SHIELDs:-Your valuable
articles during the past few months on our
ply steal resources their judlcious develop
m ent, and the advantages which would ac-
crue to our community from the establish
ment of manufactures, have been perused
with no small interest by myself, and
doubtless the readers of the SPECTATOR
generally.
Your timely and excellent remarks in a
recent issue on tree-growing have moved
me to address you the following lines.
AS the season for tree planting is near at
hand, and trees are the grandest and most
beautiful of all the productions of the
earth. a few hints may not be unacceptable
to your readers as to some of the most USE
full and ornamental, their uses, mode of
cultivation, sc. Among the most esteemed,
for its elegant appearance, and the benefi-
cial purposes to which it may be applied is
the
NORWAY SPRUCE FRA native of Nor
way, 1t has been known for over hundred
years in the United States. 1t differs from
our indigenous fir in general appearance
IS ell as in the structure of its leaves and
cones The beautiful feathery appearances
of its foliage is very striking. but the ex-
tleme regularity of its form rather detracs
from the beauty of a landscape when it is
too often repeated. 1t is easily known BY
it's long pendulous cones (Which contain its
seed) as we'll as by its formal shape.
In favorable situations, this tree aita1ns
at times the great height OF loo feet. IL
grows more rapidly than any other OF the
fir tribes; it's wood is extremely tough and
strong, and answers well for masts and
spars, but it is not so valuable when cut into
planks as that Of other species. In south
ern la itudes it does not attain the same
re it does in colder climates, the tree be
ing weakened by the loss of its sap, which
in hot weather is discharged through the
bark in considerable quantities. The more
protracted season of growth and the greater
difference between the temperature OF the
day and night, has an effect upon it, and
Judging from the situations it prefers on
mountain ranges, the summer rains OF the
South cannot be over favorable to its large
growth. The almost continual day in the
Polar countries, while vegetation is active,
produces uniformity of temperature, and
consequent uninterrupted growth day and
night. while in countries further south, the
vegetable action is checked every night and
renewed again every morning, especially in
the early part of the season, when such
alterations are most dangerous to it.
In France the spruce is ca led the pitch
spruce, from its yielding the Burgundy
pitch of commerce. To obtain this, parts
of the bark are removed in the spring, and
the resin exudes in greater or smaller guam
titles, according to the state of the tree.
This is scraped off from time to time.
After sufficient quantity has been col
lected. it is melted in hot water and strained
through bags to separate the Impurities.
The strips of bark removed are so mar
row that the trees continue to yield several
years. The timber of this fir, which grows
on the sides of high mountains, Is consid-
cred much finer than that which is pro-
duced in other situations. It's fibre is so
tough, that the mountainous often kindle
fires about the trees, for the purpose of
l,,y tbop ta
telling them with the axe.
The tree is prepogated by means of seeds.
These are to be sown rather thinly about
the middle of March. Towards autumn the
ground should tie carefully weeded, and a
quantity of rich earth strewn lightly over
the whole. During the months of the fol-
lowing May and June, the young plants
will be much assisted by frequent water
1ngs. In the preceding spring, when their
heads begin to swell, they may be trans
planted.
THE AsH-There are numerous varieties
of this tree. We shall speak only of the
well known common ash of our Virglnian
forests. 1t ought to be much more grown
than it is in ornan entail grounds. The ash
stands next to the oak for general useful |
ness serving the carpenter, the wheel |
wright, carriage maker, cooper, turner,
&c. There is no wood like it for rain gs, |
poles, spars, cradles, carts, ladders, &C.,
and for fuel it is unsurpassed. The valua-
BILE qualities of the timber of the ash con-
S SITS in its great toughness and elasticity.
It thrives tolerably well in all soils, if we
accept moist bottoms. AS an orname ntal
tree, it is much priced on account of the
beauty of its leaves and its height and ele
giant form? The best plan for propogating
it is by means of seed. The seed should
be sown in April, but will not appear above
the ground until the following year. The
second year the young plants should be
transplanted.
The mountain ash is noted for its bunch !