38 THE NURSERY 



on account of the soil being frozen in spring and the roots 

 consequently remaining inactive. Trees grown in this country 

 from such seed will break into leaf early, as root activity 

 will be stimulated by the mild winters and long springs. 

 Also, a similar result would be expected if seed from trees 

 growing at high elevations were sown at low elevations. 

 It is for this reason that Scots Pine raised from seed grown 

 on the Continent are less hardy than Scots Pine raised from 

 home-grown seed. 



But it does not follow from the foregoing that home- 

 grown seed of all species of trees is preferable where it can 

 be procured. Such is very far from being the case. 



Home-grown seed of trees whose native habitat is in a 

 country where there are cold winters and very hot summers, 

 should never be used unless it is proved by generations of 

 experience to be advisable or preferable. For, unripened 

 seed or immature seed can never produce healthy, vigorous 

 trees. 



On the other hand, though great caution is necessary, 

 there is every reason to believe that trees whose native 

 habitat is a country with a climate characterised by mild, wet 

 winters and only moderately hot summers a climate similar 

 to that in this country will, even when recently introduced, 

 bear strong, healthy, and vigorous seed, for which, though 

 produced in this country, there is every justification for using. 



Such trees would be those introduced from the coast 

 region of British Columbia, namely, Sitka Spruce, Sitka 

 Cypress, Douglas Fir, and Thuya gigantea. And, if seed of 

 these trees be imported, it is very necessary, until experience 

 may prove to the contrary, that the seed of such of these 

 trees as also grow at high altitudes in the Rocky Mountains, 

 should be obtained from the coast region, and not from the 

 mountains. 



A brief consideration of the foregoing points to the 

 advisability of using home-grown seed of Oak, 1 Ash 



1 The author has observed an unusual vigour in some seedlings of 

 Sessile Oak raised in this country from seed obtained in the Darmstadt 

 district in Germany. 



