A PROGENY TEST OF DOUGLAS-FIR TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTION IN REFORESTATION PRACTICE

by A. L. O r r- E w i n g ABS TR AC T The objective of this study was to demonstrate that much of the phenotypic variation in young stands of Douglas-fir was inherent and, consequently, of importance in reforestation practice. For this reason, several trees with widely different forms were selected in 1954 and their open-pollinated cones picked to initiate half- sib progeny tests. Scions also were collected for propagation. An assessment of both heights and forms of the different progenies was made on completion of their twelfth growing season. It was found that there had been some significant changes in the ranking of the respective progenies from the nursery measurements made at the end of the third growing season. In general, the t rees selected for their better qualities had produced the tallest and bes