The forest classification for Canada as formulated originally by Halliday and revised by Rowe (1959) probably serves as the best geographical basis for discussion. The Canadian spruce forest may be interpreted to mean any Canadian forest with a dominant spruce component. Whereas it is true that spruce stands may occur in a majority of the eight forest regions included in Rowe's treatment, most readers will probably agree that the principal areas involved in the designation are part of the Boreal Forest Region. Most of its high elevation ecological counterpart, the Sub-alpine Forest Region, and also the closely related northern portions of the Montane Forest Region in the Prince George area of British Columbia may be included. On the other hand, easterners may wish to include those parts of the Great Lakes -St. Lawrence Forest Region and the Acadian Forest Region in which sprucebalsam forest types are of major importance. However, these rather vague definitions would still permit the exclusion of the rather limited areas dominated by Sitka spruce in the Coast Forest Region of British Columbia. This comparatively small area has a much more favorable climate for timber growth than the Boreal Forest Region and Sitka spruce is a minor component of the forest. It may be worth pointing out that silviculturally, species of spruce behave very differently and that economically, white spruce is most important in central and western Canada, black spruce is most significant in the eastern part of the country, especially in Quebec, whereas red spruce is of importance primarily in the Maritimes. In British Columbia and Alberta, Engelmann spruce (Picea Engelmanni (Parry) Engelm.) is quite important, particularly in the Subalpine Forest Region. The silvical characteristics of white, black, red, and Engelmann spruce have been published recently in summary form by Nienstaedt (1957), Heinselman (1957), Hart (1959a) and Alexander (1958a respectively. An excellent systematic treatment of the genus Picea of interest to all Canadian foresters is that of Jonathan Wright (1955). Ronco (1961) has provided recently a valuable bibliography for Engelmann spruce. Since either balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mlil) or subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) are almost constant associates of the spruces in boreal Canada, they need to be included in any discussion. Their silvical characteristics have been summarized recently by Hart (1959b) and Alexander (1 958b) respectively. Wright (1959) in discussing the Canadian spruce forest quoted figures for spruce yields in the British Isles of 220 cubic feet per acre per year and in Germany of 175 cubic feet per acre per year. This is misleading if it were meant to imply that we can hope to approach these yields in the Boreal Forest Region of Canada at least, which surely comprises the bulk of the Canadian Spruce Forest. Although one cannot be certain from
SynopsisThe natural distribution of Sitka spruce is examined in relation to the species' role in British forestry. Particular attention is therefore given to a description of habitats on the Queen Charlotte Islands, and also on the adjacent mainland of British Columbia where Sitka spruce is sympatric with white spruce (Picea glauca) and hybridisation occurs. Examples of genetic variation are given and it is suggested that a knowledge of the genecologv of the species in its natural habitat would help to elucidate its full ecological and genetic potential in Britain.
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