LARCH SEED. l8l 



Most of these magnificent larches were undoubtedly grown 

 from continental seed. It seems, therefore, at first sight, not 

 improbable that the use of Scottish seed may be responsible for 

 the inferior results too often obtained nowadays. Mr Robertson, 

 Dunrobin, informs me that Mr John Gregor, nurseryman, of 

 Forres, in his book on Forestry, guaranteed his seed as obtained 

 from acclimatised — that is, Scottish trees. In considering this an 

 advantage, he was entirely correct according to the scientific 

 teaching of his time, and, indeed, of to-day. But it really seems 

 probable that the extended use of Scottish seed coincided with 

 the more dangerous tendency to disease which has been so very 

 common during the last forty or fifty years. 



Comparative experiments have been made of Tyrolese, Scottish 

 and Japanese larch seed in many of our best Scottish nurseries, 

 and I am allowed to mention some of their results. 



As regards power of germination and efificiency, the followino- 

 opinions are of some importance : — 



"The germinating power of Tyrolese seed is much higher 

 than native ... by weight one pound of Tyrolese produces as 

 many plants as from four to six pounds of native ; Japanese is in 

 my experience even better — three pounds being equal to four of 

 Tyrolese" (Mr John Boyd, Inveiliever). "The seed of the 

 former (Tyrolese) germinates much more regularly than that of 

 the latter (Scottish seed), the seedlings being very strong and 

 regular in size with very little or no signs of weak plants damping 

 off (of course this is probably to a certain extent due to the 

 stronger germinative capacity of the seed) " (Mr Gilbert Brown, 

 Grantown-on-Spey). 



But there are two distinct questions which must be kept apart 

 in any investigation of this kind. On the continent the greatest 

 care is taken in collecting the seed. Only the seed of sound 

 healthy cones is used, and all light or defective grains are care- 

 fully eliminated. Is the same care always exercised in Scotland ? 



"The (Scottish) seed is not so well cleaned" (Mr Boyd). 

 "The native seed is collected from diseased and unhealthy trees 

 under contract. These may have cones four to six years old 

 still hanging. . . . The Tyrolese seed is clean and healthy " (Mr 

 William Mackenzie, Novar). 



But if there is a real difference in the seed, due to heredity and 

 not caused by careless collecting and grading, this should show 

 Itself in the seed-bed ; and that there is such a difference seems 



