The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-10
.PRIZED SPUR HUNT LARGEST TREES
AMERICAN GENHTro ASSOCIATION sH1EKs PHoroGRAPHs OF TWO OF GREATEsT OF u S sPHCT- MENs

washington. Nov. .Foresters of the United States are interested in the announcement recently made by het American Gene&tc Association that two prizes of $1O0 each have been offered for two photographs- one of the largest tree of a. nut-bear ing variety in the United States,- and one of the largest broad-1eaf tree which does not bear edible seeds. In the first class, for example. are in-E cluded trees such as chestnut, oak, walnut, b1ltternut. and pecan and in the second trees such as elm birch n1apIe.S cottonwood and tulip poplar. No photographs of cone-bearfng trees are wanted, since it is definitely known that the California. big trees have no rivals among contfers. At later time the association may take up the same question as between the various kinds of conideFs, as piness spruces, frs, cedarR 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 un- der what conditions they thrive best When these large trees are located and the measrr ernents authenticated the association hopes that it may be pos< sibIe to secure seeds cuttings or grating wood from thrifty trees in the region where they grow. to see whether an0T ESD6C1InSDS may 0o QIOQ@ agated in other parts of the country. 1 It is hoped in this manner to get some particularly choice strains of native trees established in regions where good specimens are not now found.
 The Influence of Heredity. It is assumed by the association that seed from the region where tho largest trees grow ought to produce
 
 regions where only small trees are found By finding out where the large trees are and then planting seeds from them in other locations, the association hopes to demonstrate the practical value to Horticulture and forestry Of the laws of heredfty. Now that reforestation is becoming 8 l pression problem. the question of seed l trees which will produce particularly good offspring is naturally coming to l the fore.
 Other inflnenees of course. will 1 have bearing on the subject, and l the results of the investigation may help to settle the question as to I whether trees can be acclfmatized. Even if they can not be, there may be i cases where trees in new environ ment may make better growth than 1 the best in their native range This is said to be true of certain Of the Australian eucalyptus and of the Mon- I terey pine which does mot amount to much in it's native location in Cali fornia, but has proved of great value I in New Zealand.
 1 The federal forest service has con | ducted some studies along, this line 1 and has discovered, for example. that the Douglas fir of the Rocky Noun tairs and the Douglas fir of the Pacific I Coast while the same species, have I different Characteristics and will pro l duce trees like the parent stock, mod l flied somewhat, however, by environ 1 rnent. For example, if the two forms l are planted together, during the ear 1 Her period of it's life at least the Pa cjfc Coast form will make a larger l and stronger growth than the Rocky | Mountain tree, provided it is not af- I fectedi by adverse local conditions I Several other questions, such as the | climatic requirements of trees growI I in different localities. will, of course i enter into the, final solution of the
 problem It has been found in Ger I many. for example that the Pacide I Coast form of Douglas fir is not a. | hardy as the Rocky Mountain form
 which has to endure in it's native hab- I fiat severe extremes of temperature J and German foresters have beer
 working to discover a strain of Doug las fir which will combine, as far a.
 possible, the hardness of the Rocky
 Mountain form and the large size ot
 the Pacific Coast form.
 Trees Arc F'astidtous-
 Some authorities go so far as ts
 say that even the ingenuity and per
 severance of man are unable to in | duce trees to change their habits fal enough to adopt a country not clOsely