On the layering of white spruce

E. L. Stone and R. C. McKittrick

Pack Professor of Forest Soils, and Free-hand sections of branches 6. Hustich, I. Experimentalist, Department of from the Russia site indicate that 1950. Notes on the forests on the east Agronomy, Cornell University, Bannan's (1) description of root coast of Hudson Bay and James Bay. Acts, Geogr. 11:1-83. Ithaca, N.Y. origin in black spruce, Picea mariana 7. Katzman, G. B. (Mill.)B.S.P., applies equally to 1971. White spruce in northern New In the November 1971 issue of white spruce. The usual location is York root by layering. Tree Planters' Tree Planters' Notes, G. B. Katzman just outward (distal) of old terminal Notes 22(4) :15-16. (7) described layering of the branches bud scars at the site of the "medul- 8. Maycock, P. F. of white spruce Picea glauca lary crown" or "collenchyma plate" 1968. The flora and vegetation of the (Moench) Voss. He noted that this in the pith, that marks the terminal southern Manitouauk Islands, south- east Hudson Bay, and a consideration observation contradicts "Silvics of bud base. of phytogeographical relationships Forest Trees of the United States" Thus the origin is not identical in the region. Natur. Can. 95:423-468. (3) which states (p. 321) that there is with roots found in 1-year cuttings. 9. Payette, Serge and Francis Boudreau. no evidence of white spruce repro- Possibly similar individual-tree dif- 1972. Marcottage chez Picea glauca ducing naturally by layering. ferences in rooting ability (5) oc- (Moench) Voss et Larix laricina (Du- Actually, Cooper (2) in 1911 de- cur, however, with ready layering Roi) K. Koch sur la Cote Hudsoni- scribed the reproduction of white having an evident survival value in enne hemi-arctique, Nouveau-Quebec. spruce by layering on shallow soils habitats where regeneration by seed Natur. Can. 99:131-133. of Isle Royale, Minnesota. Fuller (4) is infrequent. Within much of its and Bannan (1) considered layering southward range, white spruce, un- of white spruce as rare in the locali- like black, occurs chiefly in closed ties investigated, though indicating forests. Here persistence of live that instances were found. Reproduc - lower branches in contact with soil is tion by layering also occurs in the uncommon, and opportunities for re- open stands of the Hudson Bay region production by layering only sporadic. as reported oy Hustich (6), May- cock (8) and, recently, Payette and Literature Cited Boudreau (9) . The latter emphasize 1. Barman, M. W. that, in the sub-arctic, regeneration 1942. Notes on the origin of adventi- by this mode is widespread and abun- tious roots in native Ontario dant, giving rise to candelabra-form conifers. Amer. J. Bot. 29:593-598. clumps, just as in black spruce. Depo- 2. Cooper, W. S. sition of wind-blown sand facilitates 1911. Reproduction by layering among layering in some coastal areas. They conifers. Bot. Gaz. 52:369-379. 3. Fowells, H. A. (Compiler). also noted layering in a dwarfed, 1965. Silvics of forest trees of the mountain-top stand in the Gaspe. United States. USDA Forest Service, We also have observed layering in Agr. Hdbk. 271. a 35- to 40-year-old plantation near 4. Fuller, G. D. Russia, N.Y., and an old-field stand 1913. Reproduction by layering in the near Lake Ainslie, Cape Breton, black spruce. Bot. Gaz. 55:452-457. Nova Scotia. In both instances stock- 5. Girouard, R. M. ing was low, allowing long retention 1972. Variation in rooting ability of stem cuttings from clones of a supe- of the lower branches, but only oc- rior white spruce provenance. casional trees rooted abundantly. Can. Forest Serv. Bi-Month. Res. Development of a surrounding clonal Notes 28:40-41. clump was especially marked when the upper central stem had been 1Department of Agronomy Paper killed or damaged. No. 1126.

14 Tree Planters’ Notes