THE OPERATIONAL PLANTING STOCK QUALITY TESTING PROGRAM AT WEYERHAEUSER

The Weyerhaeuser Seedling Testing System (STS) has been operational si nce 1985. Located in Centralia, Washington, USA, the laboratory can co nduct five types of tests which evaluate: (1) root growth potential, ( 2) seedling viability, (3) cold hardiness, (4) morphology, and (5) pat hogen infection level. It provides testing service to all nine of the company's seedling production facilities in six states in the United S tates. These have a total production capability of over 250 million se edlings per annum with a range of species including Douglas-fir, ponde rosa pine, western hemlock, noble fir, red alder, loblolly pine, slash pine and longleaf pine. It also provides limited testing service to o utside customers on a fee basis. About 500 to 800 tests are conducted annually. The seedling testing results gathered at the laboratory are compiled as base-line data for each nursery/species/stock type for int erpretation of current and future test results.