191 1.] Influence of Locality on Scotch Pine Seed. 857 



obtained from the north and from the high Alps have a lower specific 

 weight and are much more difficult to open than those of the lower 

 districts of the centre of Europe. 



(3) Neither altitude nor latitude has any influence on the size of 

 cones. Cones collected in the higher parts of the Alps and the 

 Auvergne, as well as in the north of Sweden, are notable for their 

 brighter yellowish colour. 



Characteristics of the Seeds. — (i) Seeds from the lower regions of 

 middle Europe are heavier than those of the north or of the high 

 Alpine regions. In general, the weight diminishes with increasing 

 latitude and altitude. With higher latitudes than 6o°, and with alti- 

 tudes above 4,900 ft., the weight of a thousand seeds falls below 

 93 grains. 



(2) Pine seeds collected north of latitude 62 0 , and above Alpine 

 altitudes of more than 5,200 ft., show a more feeble germinating 

 capacity than seeds from more southern and lower regions. Seeds 

 from the former lose their germinating capacity more quickly than those 

 from other European regions. 



(3) The colour of the seed and of its wing is variable for all locali- 

 ties. Generally speaking, seeds from the north and the higher Alpine 

 regions are clearer in colour than those from other regions. 



Condition of One to Five-year-old Plants. — (1) In all the stations 

 from 1,300 to 6,200 ft. altitude, the height-growth from seeds coming 

 from the centre of Europe is better than that from those of the north 

 or of the high Alpine regions. Those from Alsace-Lorraine, Rhenish- 

 Bavaria, and the lower districts of the north and centre of Switzer- 

 land show the best growth. With rare exceptions, the energy of 

 growth of the young pines falls off with increasing latitude and alti- 

 tude of the mother-trees. This is particularly the case with the 

 Swedish pines. 



(2) When cultivated in the less elevated districts, the pines from 

 all regions begin to grow at practically the same time in spring, but, 

 on the other hand, the cessation of growth takes place with the North 

 Swedish and high Alpine pines about ten days earlier than with any 

 others. When cultivated in the higher districts, the high Alpine and 

 the northern pines shoot earlier and finish their growth appreciably 

 earlier than those of the lower regions of Central Europe. 



(3) In the high districts, the pines coming from the lower regions 

 of the centre of Europe have suffered from snow, early frosts, and 

 strong insolation. The high Alpine and the northern pines have 



i grown the best up to the present. Pines of the lower regions planted 

 30 and 50 years ago in Haute-Engadine, can be sharply distinguished 

 from those reproducing themselves naturally. The former show a 

 feeble rate of growth, with short crooked stems, while the latter are 

 tall and straight. 



Pines from the north of Sweden and the high Alpine regions, when 

 cultivated in the lower altitudes, have for the most part a bushy and 

 irregular appearance. 



(4) The needles of the young pines from the high Alpine regions 

 and from the north, and also those from the south of France, 

 are characterised by their shortness. Their strongly developed cuticle 

 renders them more resistant. The pines of the lower regions of 



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