Original sentence: After the orbit, the seeds were sent to the southern Forest Service station in Gulfport, Mississippi, and to the western station in Placerville, California, to attempt germination.Nearly all the seeds germinated successfully, and the Forest Service had some 420 to 450 seedlings after a few years (some from cuttings).Some of these were planted alongside their earth-bound counterparts as controls (as would be expected, after over twenty years there is no discernible difference), but most were given away in 1975 and 1976 to many state forestry organizations to be planted as part of the nation's bicentennial celebration.The "Moon Trees".These trees were southern and western species, so not all states received trees.They were used as a way to help connect the American public with the endeavors of their astronauts
Edited sentence: After over twenty years there is no discernible difference between the two classes of trees.After the flight the seeds were sent to the southern Forest Service station in Gulfport, Mississippi, and to the western station in Placerville, California, with the intent to  germinate them.As the Command Module Pilot on the Apollo 14 mission, and due to the fact that he was a former smoke jumper, Roosa was contacted by Ed Cliff, who was the Chief of the Forest Service at the time, and who proposed the idea of takeing the seeds along.Most of the "Moon trees" were given away in 1975 and 1976 to many state forestry organizations, in order to be planted as part of the nation's bicentennial celebration.Nearly all the seeds germinated successfully, and the Forest Service had some 420 to 450 seedlings after a few years.Seeds  for the experiment were chosen from five different types of trees: Loblolly Pine,  Sycamore, Sweetgum, Redwood, and Douglas Fir.Since the trees were all of southern and western species, not all states received trees.Some of these were planted alongside their earth-bound counterparts, which were specifically set aside as controls