"better to err on the side of the assumption that most dominating 

 characteristics of the parent tree are passed along, than to 

 come to grief by assuming it to be a fact that certain eccen- 

 tricities of growth and form are Acquired. Resultantly, the 

 seed collected must be restricted to trees of development 

 approaching an ideal - a tree of rapid growth rate, healthy 

 aspect, and good form. Maximum differences of site are highly 

 undesirable. The restriction of cone areas to those in close 

 proximity to the planting grounds eliminates dangerous differences 

 in site factors. Such a restriction is purely relative, and to 

 be determined by a personal estimate of conditions. 



Cone years commonly occur every other year as 

 half or third crops, with "full" or abnormal season* at from 

 four to six year intervals. In a period of normal fruiting, a 

 tree growing in the open of over forty feet in height and a 

 proper crown development will yield upwards of two bushels of 

 closed cones. 



While the seed yield from a standard amount of 

 cones fluctuates with the seasons, due to insect attacks such 

 as Dioryctria reniculella, and to the prevalence of aborted 

 kernels resultant from early frosts, incomplete fertilization 

 and other factors, a bushel of cones will extract slightly 

 better than a pound of cleaned seed. Bue to the uncertainty 

 of seed years, it is well to carry at least three years' supply 



