686 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



can white spruce {Picea canadensis). None of these species have 

 proved entirely satisfactory, however, and attempts have been made 

 to find others better suited for the purpose. A careful study of meteor- 

 ological records showed that climatic conditions in western North 

 America from approximately Seattle north to Sitka resemble quite 

 closely conditions in western Norway, and gave rise to the belief that 

 Douglas fir and possibly also other species in this region might prove 

 desirable for introduction. This impression was strengthened by the 

 fact that such small plantations of Douglas fir as have already been 

 made showed an extraordinarily rapid growth. 



Mr. Smitt was accordingly sent over to investigate conditions in 

 British Columbia, Alaska, and the northwestern United States on the 

 ground and to secure samples of seed whose origin was definitely 

 known. The work has been very thoroughly conducted by Mr. Smitt, 

 who has secured numerous samples of seed of a considerable number 

 of species from a large variety of locations in northwestern North 

 America. His collections have included seed from the coast to fairly 

 well inland, and from sea level to several thousand feet elevation. 

 Douglas fir has been the species of chief interest, but he has also col- 

 lected numerous samples of seed of such other species as Sitka spruce, 

 western hemlock, western red cedar, and western white pine, which 

 might likewise prove of value. It is his personal opinion that Douglas 

 fir from the coast of southern and central British Columbia will 

 prove best adapted to the conditions on the west coast of Norway, 

 gnd will in fact do so well as to bring about its extensive use. Mr. 

 Smitt also made short stops in the Rocky Mountain region of Canada 

 and the northern United States, with the object of securing samples 

 of seed for testing in central and eastern Norway. 



It is planned to grow the seed samples secured by Mr. Smitt at the 

 nursery of the West Coast Experiment Station at Softland near 

 Bergen. The planting stock will then be distributed to various points on 

 the west coast for trial under a wide variety of conditions. Great care 

 has of course been taken to record accurate data for each sample, with 

 particular reference to the exact locality and altitude at which it was 

 collected, so that these experiments will yield definite results as to 

 the best localities for future collection. The West Coast Forest Experi- 

 ment Station is buying small tracts of land for experimental purposes, 

 and hopes that eventually its work will lead to the reforestation of 

 practically the entire portion of this section of the country, which is 

 for the most part primarily suited to forest production. 



