18 SEEDING AND PLANTING 



a set of conditions different from that of its natural habitat. 

 For practical purposes we cannot acclimatize a forest tree. 1 Very 

 often a species, particularly if grown for decorative purposes, will 

 thrive under conditions quite different from its natural habitat; 

 but, when such is the case, it seldom does as well as within its 

 natural range. If exotics and species from more or less remote 

 regions do well when taken to a new region, it is usually because 

 they find the site or the conditions for vegetation the same as in 

 their own region and not because they have become acclimatized. 



In ornamental planting, exotics and species from remote hab- 

 itats have a wide field of usefulness. Each tree is protected 

 and otherwise given special attention. They should, however, be 

 excluded from forest crops except in those cases where actual experi- 

 mental seedings or plantings have proved the species suitable for the 

 particular site or where it can be definitely shown that the site factors 

 are similar to those of the region from which the species is introduced* 

 At the present time in this country there is a growing tendency to 

 use exotics and species from remote regions in artificial repro- 

 duction. We are using European and West American species in 

 eastern United States, and Asiatic and East American species on 

 the Pacific coast. The great variety of our indigenous timber 

 trees, their high technical value, and the wide range of habitat 

 conditions to which the different species are adapted make it 

 reasonably certain that success lies chiefly with these species. 



There are certain restricted areas where exotics have already 

 proved of value in this country. These are the exceptions, how- 

 ever, rather than the rule. On some of the semi-arid, non- 

 forested lands of California and elsewhere along the southern 

 border of the United States, several species of Eucalyptus have 

 proved of value (Fig. 9). The extensive use of Scotch pine, Nor- 

 way spruce, and other European species in restocking woodlands 

 in eastern United States is, however, in the author's opinion, to- 

 be regretted. So also the use of eastern hardwoods in artificial re- 

 production on the Pacific coast. In none of these regions has any 

 of these species been brought to maturity in forest stands, and 

 the results from such restocking are largely problematical. Often 

 the chief inducements are rapid juvenile growth and the low cost 

 of seed and nursery stock. Experience, both in this country and 

 abroad, shows that species when grown outside of their range often 

 1 Mayr, Heinrich: Waldbau auf naturgesetzlicher Grundlage. Berlin, 1909. 



