33 



Planting of Nuts. 



Species which have seeds and seedlings subject to many dangers if 

 sown in rough, wild places should be reproduced by using the nursery 

 plant. 



Many of the nut tree species, however, can best be propagated by 

 planting the nuts in final position rather than by using nursery stock. 

 Nut tree seedlings are generally quite hardy after germination, making 

 it quite safe to plant them in rough places. 



The common nut trees growing in 

 Ontario are White Oak, Bur Oak, Red 

 Oak, Black Oak, Beech, Chestnut, 

 Bitternut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory, 

 Butternut, and Black Walnut. Of the 

 above species, Red Oak and Chestnut 

 give promise of being the most useful 

 and practical in waste lands, especially 

 where the soil is light and sandy. Red 

 Oak, White Oak, Chestnut, Shagbark 

 Hickory, and Black Walnut are found 

 naturally in loamy soils. Bur Oak and 

 Bitternut Hickory are found in the 

 heavier classes of soils. 



The collecting of nut seeds need 

 not be described, as everyone has had 

 some experience. Care should be had 

 not to gather such nuts as Black Wal- 

 nuts too green. The safest time to 

 collect is after the nuts have naturally 

 fallen to the ground. 



White Oak acorns in the south- 

 ern part of the Province frequently 

 germinate in the autumn shortly after 

 falling. Acorns which have started to 

 germinate will need careful treatment 

 Fig. 22 -Showing root develop- in handling. If the acorns are collected 

 ment of one year old white upon falling to the ground and placed 



pine and red oak. in a cool, dry place, there will be little 



danger of autumn germination. 



Nuts may be planted in the autumn or stored and planted in the 

 spring. Autumn planting has some drawbacks. The edible nuts are 

 frequently found by squirrels or other rodents before they have germin- 

 ated. In wet soils and cold, damp seasons the nuts may lose their ger- 

 minating power from decay. 



The care and storage of nuts needs some attention. The nut may 



have the husk taken off, although there is less danger of drying out if 



it is not removed. Drying out is the greatest danger to be feared after 



nuts have been collected. In no case should they be placed in artificially 



3 Bull. 155 



