﻿86 



MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



loss is involved in the perpetuation of the crop. Hence it 

 has frequently been suggested that the seed should be used 

 for purposes of propagation. 



Though some have obtained excellent results from their 

 efforts along this line, apparently the method has not com- 

 mended itself to the majority, a variety of reasons having 

 been assigned for the non-success. Two, most frequently 

 brought forward, are the long time, i. e., at least three years, 

 which must necessarily elapse before a plant raised from seed 

 has reached a marketable size, the other that cither the seed 

 refuses to germinate or that the young plants die shortly 

 after germination. 



Since Hydrastis canadensis does best in rich woods, of 

 which large tracts may be had at a comparatively low rental, 

 and, once planted, requires no care except an occasional 

 hoeing,* the validity of the first objection may be questioned. 

 As to the non-germination of the seed, this is a point open to 

 discussion. 



The seed must be obtained as early as possible. The Golden 

 Seal ripens its fruit in July and August, the ovaries, which 

 arc present to the number of twelve or more, becoming crim- 

 son, one- or two-seeded berries. These are soon eaten by 

 birds. The first thing to do then is to gather the fruit as soon 

 as ripe. Leaving it in a shaded, well-ventilated place, the 

 berries will soon dry, when the seed can be cleaned and at 

 once sown. The importance of sowing fresh seed can not 

 be too greatly emphasized; it is one of the essentials of suc- 

 cess. In the case of many plants, horticulturists fully reahze 

 the necessity of sowing fresh seed only. This seems to be 

 especially true of many members of the buttercup family. 

 Hildebrandf points this out for the genus Anemon£. 



In sowing, the necessity of reproducing as nearly as pos- 

 sible natural conditions, must be remembered. This has suf- 

 ficiently been shown by a number of investigations of which 

 it is only necessary to mention those of the late B. Schmid,t 



* Bowers, H. I.e. p. 81. 



t Ilildebrand, F. Eiiiige Beobachtungcn an Keimlingen und Steck- 

 lingen. (Bot. Zeit. 50 : 1. 1892). 



I Schmid, B. Beitriigo zur Embryo-Entwickelung einiger Dicotylen. 

 (Bot. Zeit. 60 : 207. 1902). 



