GERMAN FOREST NOTES. 8;^ 



As regards the choice of species for the afforestation of 

 these heather tracts in North Hanover, the universal opinion 

 is in favour of Pinus silvestris as the tree which has the best 

 chance of bringing the soil under cover. Albert recommends, on 

 the strength of Runnebaum's experiments, an admixture of 

 Alnus incana on account of its modest soil requirements, its 

 great power of resistance to exposure in open situations 

 (frost and drought), as well as for its favourable influence 

 on the soil. There is nothing in the composition of the brown 

 sand which would prevent a flourishing growth of almost any 

 deciduous tree, but climatic conditions prevent their cultivation 

 in these localities in the open. Having, so far as regards the 

 heather tracts of North-West Germany, solved the question of 

 soils and their treatment, and the choice of species, the 

 selection of the seed is the next question of interest. In the trade 

 in Finns silvestris seed, the source of supply and the percentage 

 of germinations are the only factors by which the price is 

 regulated. No buyer ever thinks of inquiring how many seeds 

 are contained in each Kg., which means that he is indifferent 

 as regards the absolute weight of the individual seed. All the 

 same this is a question of some importance. From a purely 

 physiological point of view no doubt can be felt that the big 

 and heavy seed has, in comparison with the smaller and lighter 

 one, a better developed embryo and a larger supply of reserve 

 nutriment, and that these facts are of great value for the young 

 plant Haak (Germany), A. Buhler (Switzerland), Hoffrath 

 Joseph Frederick and G. Eisenmenger (both of Austria), have 

 made numerous experiments showing that the bigger and 

 heavier seeds give very much better results. The germination 

 of the seeds in sample is, under favourable conditions, maintained 

 in the open, but if these should be less so the advantage of the 

 bigger and heavier seeds becomes evident. Buhler says that 

 the size of the young plant is proportionate to the size and 

 weight of the seed, and that considerably less plants are 

 produced by an equal number of smaller seeds, the difference 

 amounting sometimes to 20 %. Eisenmenger's experiments 

 show that the larger seeds taken from the same supply show 

 a better percentage of germination, and, what is of considerable 

 importance, germinate more readily under trying conditions. 

 He recommends the buying such seeds which, by equal weight, 

 ■contain the smallest number of individual seeds. He calls it 



