44 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



time, soil and climate, and especially the latter, are of 

 greater importance than the age of the trees. 



The question has been raised, whether it may be 

 advantageous from time to time to obtain seed from 

 another locality, as is done in agriculture. This may 

 become desirable when the trees are affected by disease 

 or by peculiarities which are transmitted through seed, 

 as for instance twisted fibre ; apart from such cases, it is 

 probably better not to change the seed. Trees live for a 

 long space of time, and they accommodate themselves to 

 a locality, so that home seed is likely to do best. 



d. Testing Seeds. 



The quality of seeds can be judged by their external 

 and internal appearance. Good seeds fill up the outer 

 coat, are of a good rich colour, possess a healthy smell, 

 and look fresh in the interior when cut open. The 

 percentage of good seed can, in the case of heavy 

 seeds, such as Oak, Sweet Chestnuts, and Beech nuts, be 

 judged by putting them into water, when those properly 

 developed will sink, while the bad and inferior ones will 

 float on the surface. 



"When accurate information is required, regular germi- 

 nating tests must be applied. These consist in sub- 

 jecting a certain number of seeds, usually 100, to 

 conditions which secure quick germination, namely a 

 steady degree of moisture, a temperature of 60 70 

 degrees Fahr., and free admission of air. Any arrange- 

 ment which secures these conditions will do; as in- 

 stances, the following may be mentioned : 



The Pot-test. Fill a shallow, porous flower-pot with 



