HRITISH FOREST TRKES .|y 



energy in increase of cubic contents. The power of seed- 

 bearing is maintained up till near the close of life ; the 

 quality, however, of seed produced near both extremes of 

 the reproductive period, but especially at the younger 

 extreme, is poor, it being usually deficient in germinative 

 capacity. Birch, alder, larch, and Scots pine begin to bear 

 seed earliest, often from their i5~2oth year, whilst oak and 

 beech, the latest to enter the reproductive period, only 

 commence to produce about the 6o-7oth year under normal 

 conditions of forest growth. 



Soil >and Situation exhibit their influence mainly in 

 regard to the amount of warmth afforded to the trees. At 

 high elevations or at latitudes distant from their proper 

 home, the seed-producing capacity of forest trees becomes 

 weakened, and finally no longer possible. Warm southern 

 and south-western aspects yield more seed than the colder 

 northern and north-eastern exposures. 



As an increased assimilation of mineral nutriment is 

 necessitated for the formation of seed, judging by the 

 comparatively high percentage of ashes contained in it, 

 fresh soils, rich in mineral constituents, yield more and 

 better germinating seed than those of inferior quality ; the 

 formation of flower-buds can only take place when towards 

 the close of the period of vegetation a surplus of nourishment 

 is available after the production of wood for the year is com- 

 pleted and the reserves of starchy matters for the commence- 

 ment of next year's growth have already been provided for. 



The Enjoyment of a large Amount of Light, by stimulating 

 to increased assimilation of nutrients and to the production 

 of reserves of starchy matter towards the close of the annual 

 period of vegetation, has a beneficial effect in increasing the 

 production of seed, as also a considerable influence on the 

 quality of seed produced. Only trees with well-developed 

 crowns are fully capable of utilizing the advantages to be 



E 



