INCIDENTAL RESULTS OF A STUDY OF DOUGLAS-FIR 

 SEED IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 



By C. p. Willis, 

 Forest Examiner, Forest Service 



During the fall of 1912, when the collecting and drying of cones for 

 the Douglas-fir seed study were in progress, several interesting ques- 

 tions presented themselves. These were made the basis of small inci- 

 dental experiments, distinct from, but somewhat related to, the main 

 study. These experiments, which are hereafter discussed, were de- 

 signed to answer the following questions : 



(i) Can cones be collected while still very green without injury to 

 the seed ? 



(2) On a given tree are small cones inferior to large ones? 



(3) Are the large seed of a tree of better quality than the small seed? 



(4) What temperature is best for cone drying in a kiln ? 



(5) After cones are partially opened, are the seed which cannot be 

 shaken out of especially inferior quality, or is it worth while to obtain 

 them by further drying ? 



(6) Are only the seed which readily shake out of high value, or are 

 the ones left worth securing by further shaking? 



( I ) Can cones he collected while still very green without injury to the 

 seed? 



If cone collecting is deferred until all cones seem perfectly ripe, there 

 remains but a short time for gathering them before they start to open. 

 It sometimes happens that some green cones must be picked, if the total 

 quantity desired is to be obtained. In this case it is of value to know 

 the exact effect of the practice, so far as the quality of the seed obtained 

 is concerned. Four trees at Milwaukee Park, Portland, Oregon, and 

 five trees near Carson, Washington, were selected for the study of this 

 question. From each of the nine trees weekly collections were made, 

 starting in early August, when the cones were very green, and con- 

 tinuing to late August or early September, when they had ripened per- 

 fectly. For each collection from each tree such points as the following 

 were determined : 



