19 

 STORING SEEDS FOR WINTER. 



The usual method of storing seeds is known as stratification. Layers 

 of the seeds are spread in a box with layers of sand alternating. The 

 covered box is buried in sand then for the winter. If different kinds of 

 seeds are being kept, sheets of paper should separate them. The aim 

 is to have the seeds cold and comparatively dry. The box may be kept 

 in a cold cellar so long as the seeds do not dry out. After taking up the 

 seeds and before planting in the spring, care should be taken that they 

 do not lose vitality through drying. 



A small plot of ground in the home garden may be used for a seed 

 bed. The boy and his father may well work together in this project, as 

 the matter concerns the future value and beauty of the home property. 

 It will be well to confine operations to a few species such as experience 

 or observation proves to be well suited to the locality. Horse-chestnut 

 or Mountain ash, etc., might be added if such were wanted near the 

 house. The seedlings must be kept free of weeds, and the ground culti- 

 vated. The conditions or amount of shade that obtain in their forest 

 home should be given the seedlings in the garden, if possible. 



The seedlings of conifers, such as pine or spruce, are prepared for final 

 setting out by transplanting to nursery lines. This is needed in order to 

 have the plants develop a good root system. If seedlings get two years 

 in the seed bed, one year may suffice in the nursery lines, but in any case 

 they must have room for growth of roots. They are best transplanted in 

 the spring in our latitude. If their roots are straggling, they should be 

 pruned back somewhat so as to encourage a short, fibrous condition. 

 Then they are set in rows at sufficient distances to allow for growth and 

 cultivation. Seedlings of the hardwoods, such as ash, elm, oak, may 

 be set out in final location at the end of first year, as they are generally 

 sufficient in root and height at that age. 



Wild seedlings of conifers and hardwood trees may be advantageously 

 reared in the school or home nursery. They should be lifted carefully in 

 early spring or in autumn, protected in transit from the woods to the 

 nursery, and properly set. 



Naturally the school will come in for a supply of young trees to set 

 out about its grounds. Or if the seed bed and nursery are at the school, 

 distribution can be made through the neighborhood. 



For information regarding the distribution of nursery stock address 

 Forestry Department, O.A.C., Guelph, Ont. 



CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENTS IN HORTICULTURE. 



The Union has carried on co-operative experiments in horticulture 

 for twelve years. As there is more expense in distributing nursery stock 

 than there is in sending out grain, the number of experiments is smaller 

 than in agriculture. Hitherto the work has been confined to small fruits, 

 but this year grapes and apples are added to the list. With the increas- 

 ing attention paid to the garden and orchard throughout the Province, 

 the interest in this work is expanding. 



