HEREDITY 135 



original seed came from. There has always been 

 a vague idea in the forester's mind, that the seed 

 might transmit the characteristics of the parent 

 tree, but in the absence of exact information the 

 question was left at that. In recent times, the 

 investigations of Engler, of Cieslar and of Mayr 

 have thrown some light on the question, and though 

 results have not always been consistent, sufficient 

 has been demonstrated to show the futility of 

 promiscuity. Engler's experiments at Zurich show 

 that seeds collected from different types of the same 

 species carry the characteristics of the parents to 

 the new generation when the lots of seeds are grown 

 under similar conditions, in circumstances ideal 

 to the species. His experiments which have been 

 conducted over a considerable number of years 

 show most striking results. Mayr contended that 

 the young trees, after a few years of growth in the 

 new environment, assumed the typical growth of 

 the species in that environment, but his experi- 

 ments were cut short by his death. Experience 

 in this country goes to support Engler's conten- 

 tions. The question opens up enormous possibili- 

 ties which can only be dealt with by the trained 

 botanical investigator. That the present species, 

 Pinus silvestris, L. (the Scots Pine), embraces a 

 number of forms or strains or types, whatever 

 one may call them, is certain. The native Scots 

 Pine of North Scotland is different from the Scots 

 Pine of South England, and different from the 



