HARVESTING THE ANNUAL SEED CROP 147 



conea per day, by steady work. However, as may be imagined, this method is 

 slow and costly, and frequently the size and height of trees in the virgin 

 forest prevents collecting in this way. 



2. Picking from the ground, from low scrubby trees : While this method 

 is much easier and less expensive than the former, it cannot be widely used, 

 because the species most desired do not grow in open, park-like forests of 

 short trees over any very extensive areas. Cones of yellow pine and lodge- 

 pole pine have been collected in small quantities by this method, but it can 

 never serve for obtaining any very large part of the seed crop. 



iJ. Picking from felled trees: This method is, of course, restricted to 

 picking cones from the tops of trees cut down where lumbering operations are 

 in progress. As might be suspected, there are many limitations on this 

 method. Even if there is a heavy seed crop where cutting is going on, only a 

 comparatively few trees are cut in ordinary logging operations within "the 

 brief period during which cones must be collected. Occasionally, with all 

 conditions favorable, a large quantity of cones can be collected very cheaply 

 in this manner, where timber sales are in progress on the national forests. But 

 at the best, the method can only be infrequently employed. 



4. Collecting from squirrel's hoards: Almost everyone has at some time 

 observed the squirrels working very busily in the fall of the year, cutting 

 off cones from the trees in forests of pine or spruce. These indefatigable 

 little workers, chattering in the tree tops, scurry along the slightest branches 

 and with sharp teeth cut the cones from the tips of the branches and drop 

 them to the ground. The topmost, swaying twigs of the tallest pine in the 

 forest hold no fear for the surefooted little creatures. In places where the 

 squirrels are numerous and working their hardest, there is a continuous rain 

 of cones from the tree tops, causing a noise and disturbance that must attract 

 the attention of the most indifferent observer. After the cones are cut off, 

 the squirrels collect them from under the trees and accumulate them in one 

 place, the pile of cones constituting the hoard or "cache." 



The squirrels show many peculiarities and much wisdom in locating and 

 arranging these hoards of cones. In general the hoards are located at the 

 base of a standing tree, against or under an old fallen tree, in a hollow log 

 or stump, and often along the bank of a small stream under water. Some- 

 times the hoards are located in the open, away from any trees or logs. 

 Usually, the spot selected for hoarding cones has been used for the same 

 purpo.se several successive years and is readily recognized by the deep accumu- 

 lation of old cone scales, since the squirrels break up the cones to extract 

 the nutritious seed. The cones, when freshly cut from the trees, are in a 

 green condition and full of moisture. If these cones are piled in an indis- 

 criminate mass they soon begin to mould, and in the course of time will decay 

 and the enclosed seed will be spoiled. The instinct of the squirrels teaches 

 them to guard against the possibility of such an unfortunate occurrence. 

 Instead of piling cones in a solid mass, the squirrels' hoards are carefully 

 formed of many little bunches of cones, each bunch containing a dozen or 

 more cones, buried in the forest litter and separated from the other bunches 

 by surrounding litter. This arrangement insures the thorough aeration of the 

 whole mass and prevents any destructive growth of mould. The hoarding 

 of cones under water, which has been mentioned, is another clever scheme 

 by which the squirrels preserve their winter's supply from possible decay, a 

 sort of "cold storage" system devised by these little animals. 



It is by taking advantage of the thrifty habits of the squirrels that seed 

 collectors can gather cones most economically and in large quantities. The 

 cone gatherers search through the woods for the hoards which have been 

 described, and fill their sacks with the cones so conveniently cut from the 



