Analyses of 43 blue spruce populations at age 12 (9 years in the field) revealed significant differences among populations for survival, height, vigor, crown diameter, frost injury, and foliage color. Use of regions increases the probability of locating better seeds sources, but high variability among individual populations within regions limits their value in specifying where better seed sources can be collected. Phenotypes should be selected in best stands within regions.

Excerpt from Genetic Variation in Blue Spruce: A Test of Populations in Nebraska The Great Plains is a region with few native ever green species. One of the objectives of tree improvement research in this region is to introduce, test, and identify adapted seed sources of coniferous species for use in Great Plains windbreak, environmental improvement and esthetic plantings. Blue spruce (picea pungens because of its desirable foliage color and symmetry, is a highly valued species in the northern half of the United States and in Canada for landscaping and Christmas tree production. Because it is cold-hardy, drought-resistant, and long lived, blue spruce is also a desirable species for use in shelterbelt plantings, especially in the eastern part of the central and northern Great Plains and in the Prairie Provinces of Canada. Identification of blue spruce seed sources that are adapted to particular planting sites would increase the number of evergreen species suit able for planting in the North American prairie-plains. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.