Advantages of selecting tree seeds with care

The vast virgin forests of North America are gradually being cut away and converted into managed stands. The movement is well under way in the United States and advancing in the same direction in Canada. For the most part, foresters and timberland owners have been content to accept such regeneration as came in naturally regardless of parentage or even of species. For early artificial reforestation, any seed source was acceptable. But the rising costs of timber growing and increasing competition for land use have forced owners to recognize that it is necessary and profitable to secure the best seed for a given site. We discuss the strains of forest trees, climatic limitation of forest trees, climatic guides for seed selection, selection of stands and nursery stock, and finally provide steps for better seed.