Station 20: A Failed Spruce Plantation

This area was planted to white spruce in 1924. The plantation covers an old field of just over an acre (1.1 acres) that is completely surrounded by double stone walls. A plantation case history is described at station 21, giving an idea of the work involved in managing a plantation.

White spruce is not a native tree in southern New England, and they are not particularly well suited to the habitat here. Although they grew fairly well at first, as these trees have matured they have become quite subject to disease and decay. In 1993 all trees showing visible signs of disease or decline were harvested. Today most of the remaining trees show evidence of decline or decay and many have snapped or died.