72 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1918. 
Il. Practice with Science. 
‘Practice with Science ’ has been always the motto of the Royal Agricultural 
Society. Forestry touches science at many points, and in the large developments 
of the near future science must play a leading part. I hope it will always 
be the policy aiso of the Royal English Arboricultural Society. 
In the past a great gulf has existed between science and practice, but by 
organisation this gulf should be bridged. 
The scientific man has worked at his problem in his own world, and his 
researches and experiments were often unknown outside it. The practical 
man has gone on groping in the dark, observing things that happen, but 
reasoning badly as to cause and effect. What we wish to see is the removal 
of barriers and the advance of science and practice hand in hand, and the 
two branches brought closer together. 
The Journal of Forestry offers a good medium for the interchange of 
knowledge and for the co-operation of scientific and practical men with regard 
to forestry. 
Let us consider the directions in which they can work to mutual advantage, 
and particularly in solving the urgent problems likely to arise in the immediate 
future. 
In view of the large areas to be planted and the great quantities of seedlings 
which will be required, the first important problem in which science can assist 
forestry will relate to tree seeds and the raising and protection of the seedlings. 
Tree Seeds, 
The large planting developments pending will be carried out not only in 
this country but also on the Continent to replace forests and woods felled 
or destroyed in the war. In the past we have relied too much on Continental 
seed. Although in some directions it may be advantageous to use seed collected 
from the country of origin, we must organise now a proper collection of native 
seed. The felling of so large a proportion of seed-bearing trees in this country 
makes the matter urgent. 
State grants are required to institute seed-testing stations and proper 
facilities in other necessary directions. 
Since the quality of the seed is a prime factor for successful planting, with 
each variety of tree we must decide on the best type, age, character, and situation 
of the parent-tree from which the seed is collected. Geographical position 
and altitude are of less importance with native than with imported seed. 
Forester's differ as to the best age of the parent-tree, although the completion 
of height-growth is assumed generally to be the best age. 
Take Scots Pine as an illustration. 
The late Mr. Grant Thompson, who had a long experience, estimated the 
best age of the parent-tree to be sixty to seventy years. Seed from old trees 
is unsatisfactory and the cones are then very small. If, however, the size 
of cone and vigour of seedlings are the principal guides, considerably younger 
parent-trees ave apparently practicable. Isolated trees growing on commons 
frequently bear very large cones at fifteen to twenty years of age, and fully 
developed seed which produces vigorous seedlings. One hesitates to suggest 
collecting seed from Scots Pine trees quite so young, but there is no doubt 
in my mind that the parents had better be too young than too old. 
With Larch—and in this case we may have to rely more on native seed 
in the future—it is generally considered that seeds from the cones of larch 
of pitwocod size will be unsatisfactory. Yet some practical foresters say they 
have obtained good results from such cones. 
Take also the different types of the same forest tree, which types, in some 
cases, for good or ill, may be transmitted to the offspring. The oak is an 
example in which very careful selection of the seed appeals necessary, and 
we have all noticed the extreme differences of type in the Corsican Pine. One 
type of Corsican in a parcel will have the characters of the coarser Austrian 
type, whereas another may be of a fine and erect description. 
In some directions it may be quite sound to select seed from what appear 
at the first glance to be unsatisfactory or coarse trees. Seed from hedgerow 
