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1909] PHILLIPS—A STUDY OF PINON PINE _ 221 
Seed years usually occur at five-year intervals, but have been 
reported at shorter intervals than this. The seed is well rounded at 
the base, tapering with prominent ridges to an acute point. It is 
usually dark brown on the lower side, with more or less mottled 
orange yellow on the upper side, 9 to 12.5™™ (0.375 to 0.5") long, 
6.5 tog™™ (0.25 to 0.375!) broad, with a thin shell which cracks 
most easily along the line of the most prominent ridge. The seed 
wings are about one-half the length of the seed, easily detached, and 
of no practical use in seed distribution. The seeds usually have a 
high percentage of infertility, which varies from 5 to 20 per cent., 
but in one case went as high as 85 per cent. Poor seeds are often 
lighter in color than good seeds. Germination power is lost very 
readily, which necessitates special storing when they are to be used 
for artificial planting, and good site-conditions when the stands are 
to be reproduced naturally. It is a matter of note that the seeds from 
the northern portion of the range are usually considered better than 
those from the south. Five —— collected in various localities 
gave the following results: 
pound, | Poy | Peseause | Pereatege | Perce | where cllecd 
(453.68™) | knife test | water test | greenhouse in open 
3510 N. M. 
oheied 87.2 84.0 82.2 5.6 Ft. Bayard, 
2215 89 I 86.6 80.3 is 2 Tres Piedras, N. M 
one QI.2 86.0 78.1 70.4 | Ft. Garland, Col. 
1950 92.7 88.5 81.3 71.0 | Ft. Garland, Col 
ss 99.2 97-1 96.4 90.3 Lincoln, N 
Weevils sometimes affect the seed before the cones open. Birds 
and rodents eat the seed extensively, and stores are made ses moun- 
tain rats which were found to contain a maximum of 35 to 70! (I to 2 
bushels) of clean seed. Ants are known to eat seed, especially at 
lower levels. In the early days, the Indians and Mexicans used the 
Pifion as a staple article of food. At present, it is gathered in immense 
quantities and sold as a delicacy. It is eaten most extensively in and 
about the region where the tree grows naturally, but large amounts 
are being sold at fruit stands throughout most of the United States. 
To prevent the seeds from spoiling and to retain flavor, they are 
"sually baked immediately after being gathered. 
