region, the second the seed collection zone. Thus, seed collected in the vicinity of 
the weather station at Forks, in northwestern Washington, would be designated as 
*13”’— Region 1, Zone 3. 
This is followed by the numbers which indicate elevation in thousands of feet. 
Elevations are specified to the nearest 500 feet. Elevations of 0-500 feet are specified 
as -0.5, 500-1000 feet as -1.0, and in like manner for whatever the elevation of col- 
lection may be. Hence, the complete designation of the seed from Forks would be: 
Lot Number 13-0.5, meaning that the cones were collected in Region 1, Zone 3, 
between sea level and 500 feet elevation. 
As each sack of cones is collected, it is tagged and marked with all identifying 
information, as shown above, and from this point of collection through the processes 
of refinement to shipment to our customers, this tag is the means by which all seed 
lots are kept accurately separated and identified. 
Elevations are generally specified to the nearest 500 feet, which may appear 
rather broad by Northern European standards. However, it must be kept in mind 
that Western North America is a region of extremely rugged topography, particularly 
in those areas now forested. Single, relatively unbroken slopes of 2,000 to 3,000 foot 
differences in elevation are not unusual. To attempt to narrow down more precisely 
the elevations from which cones are collected would only add to the collection costs, 
and would be of no particular benefit to the purchaser. Furthermore, it should be 
remembered that the latitude of the Douglas fir region is low compared to the 
Helicopter direct seeding 
with Certified Maningseed, 
Tillamook Burn, Oregon 1950. 
