The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-10-29

\ edible seeds In the FIRST class, for
example, are included trees such ms
chestnut, oak, walnut. hGttcrnut. and
pecan; and in the second, trees such as
elm, birch, maple, cottonwood, and
tulip poplar No photographs OF
cone bearing trees are wanted, since il
is definitely known that the Califor-
MIA big trees have no rivals among
conifers At later time the associa-
ton may take up the same question as
between the various 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
the large trees are located and the
measurements authenticated, the asso-
citation hopes that il may be possible
to secure seeds, cuttings, or grating
wood from thrifty trees in the region
where they grow, to see whether finer
specimens may be propogated in other
parts of the country.
II 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 Heredty
1t is assumed by the association that
seed from the region where the larg-
est 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 localities, the association hopes
to demonstrate the practical value to
horticulture and forestry of the laws
of heredity. Now that reforestation IS
becoming pressing problem, the
question of seed trees which will pro-
duce particularly good offspring is
naturally coming to the fore,
Other influences, Of course, will
have bearing on the subject, and the
results Of the investigation may help
to settle the question as to whether
trees can be acclimati2ed. Even if
they can not be, there may be cases
where trees in new environment may
make better growth than the best in
their native range. This is said to be
true of certain Of the Australian
eucalyptus, 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-
Quoted some studies along this line
and has discovered, for example, that
the Douglas fir of the Rocky Noun
tains and the Douglas fir Of the Pacific
Coast, while the same species, have
different characteristics and will pro-
duce trees like the parent stock, mod
fled somewhat, however, by environ
nent. For example, if the two forms
are planted together, during the earli-
er period of its life at least the Pacific
Coast form will make larger and
stronger growth than the Rocky
Mountain tree, provided it is not
affected by adverse local conditions.
Several other questions, such as the
climate requirements of trees grown
in different localities, will, Of course,
enter into the final solution of the
problem. It has been found in Ger
many, for example, that the Paclfc
Coast form Of Douglas fir is not as
hardy as the Rocky Mountain form,
which has to endure in its native
habitat severe extremes Of tempera-
ture, and German foresters have been
working to discover strain OF Doug
las fir which will combine, as far as
possible, the hardness Of the Rocky
Mountain form and the large size OF
the Pacific Coast form.
Trees are Fastidious
Some authorities go so far as TO say
that even the ingenuity and perse-
verance of man are unable to induce
trees to change their habits far
enough TO adopt country not closely
like their native habitat.
This fastidiousness in the habits OF
trees has its good and its bad sides,
they say. 1t absolutely limits the for
ester's choice Of trees to grow in a
given region. But, on the other hand,