January 1904.] Tests of Forest Trees. Ill 



HARDINESS. 



A Test of the Hardiness of Tree Seedlings. 



In the fall of 1896 the Division of Forestry, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, invited this department to cooperate in a test of 

 forest-tree seed from various localities. Some extracts from a letter 

 from Assistant Chief Charles A. Keffer will serve to explain the pur- 

 pose : 



"As you are no doubt aware, there is prevalent a general idea that 

 a species may grow successfully over a wide area when propagated 

 from seeds taken within restricted limits, but that if seed grown in 

 one part of its range be planted in a distant part the seedlings are 

 less hardy than those of native origin. 



"It is desirable to know to what extent the leading economic 

 species are thus affected by locality, and it is hoped that from such a 

 beginning other studies of equal practical bearing may be instituted. 

 "It is proposed to gather, at each station interested, a quantity of 

 seed of each of the species named below. Each station will keep a 

 portion of each variety gathered, and send an equal quantity to all 

 cooperating stations. 



"The first year the species chosen and the quantities planted at 

 each station are as follows : 



Acer negundo (Box elder) y% pint. 



Juglans nigra (Black walnut) 2 quarts. 



Quercus macrocarpa (Bur oak) 1 quart. 



Fraxinus americana ( White ash ) ^ pint. 



Fraxinus viridis ( Green ash ) y z " 



Celtis occidental! s (hackberry ) % " 



Gleditschia triacanthos (Honey locust) % " 



The seeds were planted according to common nursery practice, and 

 notes taken as to the germination of the seeds and the growth of the 

 seedlings. There has been no appreciable difference in the vigor and 

 hardiness of the trees. During the severe cold of the winter of 1898- 

 '99 the tips of the young shoots of many trees were killed, but not to 

 a greater extent than the trees of the same species in the native timber 

 along the creeks. In no one case was the injury permanent or even 

 serious, the trees making good recovery and strong growth the suc- 

 ceeding season. 



A number of trees were transplanted from the nursery rows to a 

 permanent location in a testing grove. Observations have been made 



