Abstract The question of origin of seed, or provenience, has been extensively discussed, but much of what has been written seems far removed from the actuality of our planting operations. The purpose of this paper is to bring out what practical steps have been taken in European countries and what has so far been done in the United States toward assuring supplies of forest tree seed from known sources and of desirable character. Ideal control of seed supplies will have to come about gradually, for nowhere is a perfect system in force. It is believed, however, that a few simple reforms in our nursery and planting records can be made at little or no expense, and will prove of great benefit. A brief orientation of the subject is given, followed by an account of how seed origin is controlled in other countries. A succeeding paper will discuss "A Forest Seed Program for the United States."
Baldwin et al. (Wed,) studied this question.