A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



a. Weight and Size. 



In the case of one and the same species, large heavy 

 seeds are better than small light ones. The former 

 generally possess a greater germinating power, and the 

 resulting seedlings show a greater power of resistance 

 against external injurious influences, and a more vigorous 

 development, which in many species is due to the 

 greater quantity of reserve materials deposited in the 

 seed. This superiority at the first start should not be 

 under-estimated, because it is recognisable long after the 

 seedling stage has been passed. In many cases the 

 dominant trees grow out of the seedlings which had the 

 best start. 



The actual weight of good seed varies according to 

 locality. The following figures are given as examples ; 

 they represent averages for clean seeds without wings 

 calculated from the best available data : 



Number of Seeds 

 per pound. 



Sweet Chestnut . . . . 115 



Oak, pedunculate . . . . 130 



Beech 5,000 



Maple (Sycamore) . . . . 5,000 



Ash 6,500 



Broad-leaved Lime-tree . . . 5,000 



Small-leaved 15,000 



Hornbeam 14,000 



Elm . ... 70,000 



Alder ... . . 300,000 



Birch ...... 800,000 



Silver Fir. . . . 10,000 



WeymouthPine .... 30,000 



