EFFECT OF FERTILIZATION ON SEED 143 



the data here given show that there is a close relationship 

 between the union which produces the seed and the value of the 

 seed for nursery practice. 



In general, the cones from the thrifty trees furnished the 

 larger and heavier seed no matter what tree furnished the 

 pollen. The seed, in addition, had a higher germination per- 

 centage, a higher rate of germination, and possibly a higher 

 real value to the pound, and produced taller, heavier, and 

 stronger seedlings. Cones fertilized by the pollen from thrifty 

 trees also had the same relations. 



Trees affected with mistletoe had half as many more seed to 

 the pound as were found in the cones on thrifty trees, but the 

 germination was 20% lower and the seedlings were not as 

 vigorous, though the real value of the seed was about the same. 



The suppressed, malformed, and diseased trees gave the 

 largest number of seed to the pound and this seed had the lowest 

 germination percentage, were the lowest in real value, and 

 produced the smallest trees in the nursery. 



It would appear that pollen from thrifty trees transmit some 

 of the parent's characteristics to the seed which it fertilizes, 

 for the seed, the germination percentage, and the real value, and 

 the seedling growth are larger when the cones on poorer trees 

 are fertilized with it. An apparent contradiction is shown 

 when pollen from poorer trees fertilizes the cones of thrifty 

 trees, but this difference is probably due to the greater strength 

 of the pistillate flowers. Polllen from insect-infested trees 

 apparently has no effect on the seed produced, but the effect 

 on the pistillate flowers of the infested tree is not known from 

 these experiments. 



Cross-fertilization is to be desired because it produces larger- 

 sized seed, greater germination powers, higher real value to the 

 pound, and better growth in the seedling stage. This is 

 apparently true, no matter whether applied to the suppressed 

 or infested trees or applied to the best trees in the stand. 



