This handbook on the seeds of woody plants would not be possible if not for the pioneering work of many individuals in past years. They worked without the modern laboratory and information retrieval services that we now routinely use and take for granted. Their early efforts in the first half of the 20th century solved many seed problems and pointed the way for later research on numerous subjects. Without them, our body of knowledge about the seeds of woody plants would not be what it is today. Many contributed, but for their extensive work and leadership, we dedicate this book to the following pioneers:
- George S. Allen Canadian Forestry Service & University of British Columbia
- Henry I. Baldwin New Hampshire Forestry Department
- Lela V. Barton Boyce Thompson Institute
- Claude E. Heit New York Agricultural Experiment Station
- Nikolas T. Mirov USDA Forest Service
- Paul O. Rudolf USDA Forest Service
- Charles F. Swingle USDA Bureau of Plant Industry
- W. R. Van Dersal USDA Soil Conservation Service
- Philip C. Wakeley USDA Forest Service