FOREST TREE SEED. I 39 



crops have been greatly improved. Stockbreeders have vastly 

 improved their stocks of cattle, horses, and sheep by carefully 

 and scientifically breeding from the best strains and specimens. 

 I see no reason why forest trees cannot also be improved by 

 greater care, and by a fuller application of scientific methods in 

 the selection of the seed, both at home and abroad. It is well 

 known that there are many well-equipped seed-testing stations 

 abroad, which no doubt put on the markets beautifully cleaned 

 seed, which may be termed very good if judged by its weight 

 standard and percentage of germination. But the fitness or 

 suitability of seed cannot be correctly estimated by its clean- 

 ness, weight, or germinative power. In every case the origin 

 of the seed must also be taken into consideration. The selection 

 and collection of tree seed is too often left to inadequately- 

 trained persons. This should not be tolerated. Other important 

 forestry operations, such as seed sowing and planting, are, if 

 carried out on anything like a large scale, always under the 

 direct charge of men trained to the work. The very important 

 work of seed selection should also be carried out under the 

 supervision of thoroughly experienced and trained men, who 

 should be able to deal with the matter in a judicious and 

 scientific manner. Now in connection with the selection of 

 tree seed, there are naturally many points which should have 

 careful consideration. The following are perhaps the most 

 important points : — 



i. Type or strain of tree from which the seed is collected. 



2. Locality or region in which the parent tree is growing. 



3. The health of the parent tree. 



4. Age of parent tree. 



Point 1 is very important, chiefly because of the far-reaching 

 influence of heredity in plant life as well as in animal life. 

 There may be in existence several types or strains of any species 

 of tree, just as there may be in existence several types or strains 

 of any breed of animals. Some types and strains in animals 

 and trees may, of course, be good and profitable, while other 

 animal and tree types and strains may be undesirable and 

 unprofitable. It will be the seed selectors' business to see that 

 the seed is obtained from none but the best types and strains. 

 In primeval forests which were regenerated naturally, some 

 species were represented by several types, which, as a rule, were 



VOL. XXXIII. PART II. L 



