388 ANNUAL KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



methods. Numerous species were tried. Tiie results were suffi- 

 ciently satisfactory to warrant goini; ahead with tliis work on a much 

 larger scale. The areas to be sown will be doubled next year if 

 sullicient suitable seed can be obtained. In planting, many facts of 

 local importance were discovered. Actual plantations were success- 

 fully establislied, some of them upon sites w-liere it is extremely diffi- 

 cult to reestablish tree growth, and where so^^ng had proved or was 

 certain to prove a failure. 



In the practical work of planting it frequently becomes necessary 

 to choose between two supplies of seed, both possibly from distant 

 sources. Abundant seed 3'ears in some regions may be years of scant 

 supply in other regions, and it is important to know whether the plant- 

 ing of seed matured in a totally different climate from that of their 

 new environment is wise. To what extent the source of the seed may 

 influence the success of the operation is a doubtful question. If it 

 can be proved that climatic varieties within the species will adapt 

 themselves readily to the new conditions, the problem of seed collecting 

 ^nll have been greatly simplified. If, however, trees grown from seed 

 from a distant source prove susceptible to new climatic influences, 

 the work of seed collecting must be more fully systematized. Another 

 question needing investigation is whether it is poor policy to collect 

 seed from unthrifty individual trees or from those which show poor 

 form or a tendency to succumb to any unfavorable factors, lest such 

 characteristics may be transmitted to the next generation of trees. 

 Experiments are now being carried on to determine these points. A 

 number of years will be necessary to secure final results. 



Experiments with tree species not native to the region were also 

 carried on. This introduction of so-called exotic species is of great 

 importance in planting. It is quite possible that among the many 

 exotic species available a few will prove equal or superior to the 



Erincipal native species. Many parts of the West are entirely lackingin 

 ardwoods beyond the few cottonwoods and willows which grow along 

 the streams and the chaparral oaks. There is great need of a valuable 

 hardwood, and there are apparently man}' situations where the soil 

 is as good as would be demanded by any hardwood. The shortness 

 of the growing season at altitudes where moisture is sufficient, the 

 greatest impediment to exotic introduction, should not be an impass- 

 able obstacle if trees from northern latitudes are chosen. Wide 

 latitude has been given experiments along this line. 



To determine the relative vigor, drouglit resistance, hardiness, and 

 growth rate of yellow pine, jack pine, and Scotch pine on a loose, 

 sandy south slope in the Nebraska sandhills, such as are common 

 throughout this region, 100 trees each of two-year-old seedlings which 

 had been given one year in the transplant beds at the Halsey Nursery 

 were planted. At the present time 85 per cent of the jack pine, 64 

 per cent of the yellow pine, and 34 per cent of the Scotch pine are 

 growing. The remainder are either dead or rapidly failmg. In 

 order to determine the relative resistance to cold, exposure, and 

 drought, and the rate of growth, of Austrian and yellow pine, 50 

 yellow pine transplants and 100 two-year-old Austrian pine seedlings 

 grown in sandy soil at Charles City, Iowa, were planted. At the 

 present time 100 per cent of the yellow pine are growing, but only 3S 

 per cent of the Austrian pine are ahve. In similar experiments with 

 the Norway pine, but 22 per cent are now alive. These experiments 

 are mentioned as single examples merely. 



