Planting tropical trees is often hampered by the difficulty of obtaining enough good seed of the right species. After describing the process of sexual reproduction in trees, this manual first looks at the possibilities for stimulating flower formation and for increasing the setting of fruits. It provides all the information necessary to choose the best sources for seeds, and to select the best seeds for a particular planting site. Practical instructions are given on how best to germinate the seeds, and how to nurture and care for the young seedlings.

The first comprehensive handbook on the seeds of trees and shrubs produced by the USDA Forest Service was USDA Misc. Pub. 654, Woody-Plant Seed Manual. The manuscript was ready for publication in 1941, but World War II delayed publication until 1948. The boom in tree planting in the 1950s and 1960s created a large demand for seeds and exposed the gaps in our knowledge concerning production and quality of seeds of woody plants in general. The 1974 Handbook proved to be very popular both in this country and abroad, leading to five printings and translations in several other languages. More than a quarter-century after its publication, however, numerous advances in tree seed technology have dictated that a new revision is needed; the result is the current volume. Part I contains information on how to get seeds and raise seedlings. Get Your Copy Now.