144 Forestry Quarterly 



stems, the alpine ones stouter root system and considerably 

 fewer of the latter succumb in the plantations in higher eleva- 

 tions. 



In the low lands all spruces grew better than higher up, but 

 with elevation, the low land spruce declines more rapidly than 

 the alpine stock. No influence of size and weight of the seed 

 could be noted on these growth relations ; only the climate of 

 the seed trees counts. 



" The duration of the growth period and the heat requirement 

 for vegetative activity is transmitted to the progeny." 



Morphological differences are also transmitted. In the al- 

 pine stock the type of "light" leaves, in the lowland stock of 

 " shade " leaves is more prominently developed. In the former, 

 bast and bark of the year's shoots are more strongly developed 

 in comparison to the woody fiber. They are more rcsistent to 

 early frost, drouth and to loss of chlorophjdl by strong insola- 

 tion. They suffer, however, as much from late frost as the low- 

 land stock. Alpine seed, then may grow in lowland nurseries 

 into useful stock for alpine planting, but lowland stock may not 

 advantageously be used in such situations. 



That damage and poor growth, due to suppression, is not 

 transmitted, has again been proved. But an experiment with 

 seed from a bushlike variety produced plants both normal and 

 roundheaded as well as transition forms. 



Regarding the fir, the author fails to find physiological races, 

 and iadaptations are not transmitted, hence the species is adap- 

 tive to climate. 



With larch, two climatic races, as in spruce, were noted, but 

 the differentiation as regards power of germination and growth 

 rate was found to begin at a higher elevation, 1,700 m. Shorter 

 period of vegetation and slower growth characterize the alpine 

 stock. Growth forms influenced by soil may be hereditary. For 

 the maple, similar race differences were found. 



The practical conclusions are, to use seed from localities simi- 

 lar in climate to those where the stock is to be used, and as far 

 as hereditary selection is concerned, natural regeneration is the 

 best method. 



Einjluss der Provenienz des Samens aufdie Eigenschaften der forstlichen 

 Halzgewdchse. VIII Band, 2 Heft der MitteiluDgen der Schweizerischen 

 Centralaii.slak fiir das forstliche Versuchswesen, 1905. 



