202 DOUGLAS FIR 



It is a prolific seeder, generally producing seed each year, 

 with a high rate of fertility. The cones ripen early in Au- 

 gust, and by September they open and the seeds are scat- 

 tered by the winds. The seeds are about the size of White 

 Pine with a wing of the same dimensions. They are largely 

 eaten by birds and squirrels, but the great number pro- 

 duce leaves enough for abundant reproduction. Experi- 

 ments in eastern nurseries show that the production of 

 young plants is not at all difficult. The tree grows quite 

 rapidly in the East at first, but almost invariably fails as 

 age creeps on. Experience in attempts to grow it east of 

 the Mississippi River has not been encouraging, although 

 it is said to do well in Europe. It is possible that seed 

 gathered from trees growing on the eastern slopes of the 

 Rocky Mountains may produce trees that will endure the 

 climatic conditions which must be met in the East. It is 

 reported that it does very well in Iowa and Minnesota. In 

 western North Carolina it made in ten years less than half 

 the height of White Pine of the same age and planted by 

 its side. Whether it can be best grown by planting seeds 

 where the trees are to stand, or whether trees would best 

 be grown in a nursery must be determined by experiment, 

 but it is very probable that seed planting will serve as well, 

 and it would certainly be much less expensive. Experiments 

 in that line should certainly be made by those who may 

 live within the bounds of its natural range. 



