NEWS FROM THE U.S. FOREST TREE SEED CENTER

by James L. McConnell and Dr. Earl Belcher ¹

The increasing use of wood and wood products has stimulated forestation efforts throughout the world in recent years, which in turn have accelerated tree improvement research. This has resulted in a growing demand for reproductive materials, especially seeds, from the United States for use by foresters throughout the world.

In the past, the U.S. Forest Service has handled over 5 000 foreign requests for seed through its Division of Timber Management Research in Washington, D.C. In addition to these requests, hundreds more have been handled by Forest Service field units and by various universities, industries, and state forestry agencies. The number of requests for tree seed has increased each year as forestation, tree improvement, and forest genetics activities have expanded.

To facilitate the handling of these requests, to overcome the duplication of efforts often experienced in filling them, and to combine service at one central location, the U.S. Forest Tree Seed Center was established by the U.S. Forest Service in January 1972 at the Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory in Macon, Georgia. During its first year of operation, the Center shipped experimental lots of seed to Scotland, Peru, Nepal, Madagascar, Kenya, Japan, Haiti, Gabon, France, England, Ecuador, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Iceland, Korea, New Zealand, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

The seed center will furnish small lots of tree seed for species introduction trials, provenance research, tree breeding, and similar purposes to forest researchers, but only to those outside the United States. Seed is available to both public and private agencies but is intended for experimental use only, not for commercial purposes. When requests in excess of the prescribed limit are received, they are returned to the requestor with recommendations for possible sources of the seed from commercial seed dealers. Approximately one-fourth of the requests received fall into this category.

At present, primary emphasis is on the major Southern pine species (Pinus echinata, P. elliettii, P. palustris and P. taeda). However, the inventory of seed now on hand includes more than 50 coniferous species (gymnosperms) and three hardwood species (angiosperms). As requests are received for other coniferous species, collections will be made and representative amounts added to the Center's seed stock for use in meeting current and future requests. Requests for hardwoods, including central and northern species, will be honoured as quickly as seed can be obtained. Again, representative amounts will be collected and stored, if feasible, for use in filling future requests.

Any organization or company receiving a request from a foreign researcher can send it to the Center where the request will be evaluated. If the request qualifies under the established policies, the requestor will be sent inventories and price lists. The Center will handle all visas, plant quarantine inspections and foreign shipping arrangements for the requested seed. In most cases, the seed is shipped via International Air Mail. Packages over four pounds must be shipped via Air Freight. The requestor pays all shipping charges.

¹ Mr. McConnell is Director of the Eastern Tree Seed Laboratory, Macon, Georgia. Dr. Belcher is Tree Seed Specialist at the Laboratory.

A service charge for seed is levied to cover the costs of processing requests and administering the programme. The scale of charges is as follows:

The scale of charges for cottonwood (Populus deltoides) cuttings is as follows:

1. Select clones as identified through published descriptive data. Rooting ability generally known. $1.00 each cutting (a cutting can vary in length from 12" to 22"). Limit 25 cuttings each clone.

2. Unidentified or run-of-the-bar cuttings (source identified). Rooting ability not known. $.50 each cutting. Limit 100 cuttings.

3. Unidentified or run-of-the-bar cuttings (source not identified). Rooting ability not known. $.50 each cutting. Limit 100 cuttings.

Additional requirements for cottonwood:

1. Shipment from the U.S. will be between December 15 and March 1.

2. All cuttings will be shipped air freight. Freight charges to be paid by consignee.

Further information, including a current inventory of seed available, may be obtained by writing:
Director, United States Forest Tree Seed Center
U.S. Forest Service
P.O. Box 819
Macon, Georgia 31202, U.S.A.

U.S. FOREST TREE SEED CENTER INVENTORY
P.O. BOX 819, MACON, GEORGIA 31202 U.S.A.

MAY 1973

* see also code 149