The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-24
TWO ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR
PRIZES FOR best PHOTOS
Photographs of Two Largest Trees In
U. s.. Wanted by the American
Genetic Association-An Cone
Bearing Trees Are Excluded

Washington, Oct. 24.-Foresters of
the United States are interested in the
announcement recently made by the
American Genetic Association that two
prizes of 500 each have been offered
for two photographs-on of the larg-
est tree of a nut-bearing variety in
the United States, and one of the larg-
est broad-leaf tree which does not bear
edible seeds. In the first class, for ex-
ample, are included trees such as chest
nut, oak, walnut, butternut and pecan /;
and in the second, trees such as elm,
birch, maple, cottonwood and tulip pop
lar. No photographs of cOne-bearing
trees are wanted, since it is definitely
known that the California big trees
have no rivals among conifers. At a
later time the association may take up
the same question as between the vari-
Gus kinds of conifers,-as pines,
spruces, frs, cedars and expresses.
The purpose of the competition, as
stated by the association, is to find
out in what regions the native trees
attain their largest growth, and under
what conditions they thrive best. When
these large trees are located and the
measurements authenticated, the associ-
alton hopes that it may be possible to
secure seeds, cuttings, or grating wood
from thrifty trees in the region where
they grow, to see whether finer spcci.
mems may be propagated in other parts
of the country. 1t is hoped in this man
ner to get some particularly choice
strains of native trees established in
regions where good specimens are not
now found.
The Influence of Heredity
1t is assumed by the association that
seed from the region where the largest
trees grow ought to produce larger and
stronger trees than from regions where
only small trees are found. By finding
out where the large trees are and then
planting seeds from them in other loca-
tions, the association hopes to demon.
strate the practical value to horticul-
ture and forestry of the laws of
heredity. Now that reforestation is be-
coming a pressing problem, the ques.
tion of seed trees which will produce
particularly good offspring is natural
ly coming to the fore.
Other influences, of course, will have
a bearing on the subject, and the re-
suits of the Investigation may help to
settle the question as to whether trees
can be acclimatized. Even if they can
not be, there may be cases where trees
in a new environment may make bet
ter growth than the best in their native
range. This is said to be true of GER
tain of the Australian eucalypts, and
of the Monterey pine which does not
amount to much in its native location
in California but has proved of great
value in New Zealand.
The federal forest service has con
ducted some studies along this line and
has discovered, for example, that the
Douglas fir of the Rocky Mountains
and the Douglas fir of the Pacific Coast,
while the same species, have different
characteristics and will produce trees
like the parent stock, modified some
what, however, by environment. For
example, if the two forms are planted
together, during the earlier period of
It's life at least the Pacific Coast form
will make a larger and stronger growth
than the Rocky Mountain tree, provided
it is not affected by adverse local con
dtions.
Several other questions, such as the
requirements of trees grown in
different localities, will, of course, en-
ter into the final solution of the prob
lem. 1t has been found in Germany,
form of Douglas fir is not as hardy as
the Rocky Mountain form, which has to
endure in its native habitat severe ex.
tremes of temperature, and German
foresters have been working to discov-
er strain of Douglas fir which will
combine, as far as possible, the hardi.
ness of the Rocky Mountain form and
the large size of the Pacific Coast form.
Some authorities 60 so far as to say
that even the ingenuity and persever-
ance of man are unable to induce trees
to change their habits far enough to
adopt country not closely like their
native habitat.
This fastidi0usness in the habits of
trees has its good and its bad sides,
they say. 1t absolutely limits the for
S choice of trees to grow in a
given region. But, ON the other hand.
there is practical certainty of results.
If beech or spruce thrives where the
average warmth and moisture of the
growing season from year to year
ranges between certain degrees, then
wherever else the same average is
found, in the northern hemisphere at
least, the forester may plant beech or
spruce, whether or not they are already
there, with confidence that they will
flourish.
The announced purpose of the Gene
TIC Association is to bring about the
of seed or stock of the
best specimens, when found, to dem.
Dnstrate, if possible, the value of hered
lty in tree growing. The contest for
the 800 photographs is announced to
end on July 1, 1915, on which date,
says the. secretary of the Genetic AS,
ISOLATION III Washington, the offer will