SUGGESTIONS. 23 



seed as soon as it is gathered or by keeping it in water over the 

 winter and sowing in the spring-. In most instances it will no doubt 

 be found more satisfactory to sow in the fall, providing the place 

 sown can be protected from waterfowl and other animals likely to 

 destroy the seed, since such a practice will avoid the trouble of keep- 

 ing the seed wet during- the winter. When the seed is kept in water, 

 either for storage or transportation, the water must be changed fre- 

 quently or aerated, as fermentation sets in if it is allowed to stand for 

 any length of time. 



The seed can be shipped or stored for a short time by packing it in 

 dampened moss or excelsior, and this is a convenient way to prepare 

 it for shipment. It is necessary to separate the seed from the moss or 

 excelsior by layers of cloth, as it can not conveniently be sown when 

 mixed with either. The package, when made up thus for shipment, 

 must not be too thick or too tight to prevent some slight circulation 

 of air, or fermentation will at once set in. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR HARVESTING, STORING, AND PLANTING. 



(1) Orders should be placed before the harvesting season is com- 

 menced, so that the seed may be shipped immediately after it is 

 gathered. 



(2) Care should be taken to gather only fully matured seed. 



(3) Seed should not be allowed to dry when it is to be used for 

 propagation. For shipment or storage it must be kept wet. with 

 frequent changes of water, or packed in damp moss or excelsior in 

 ventilated packages. 



(4) Wherever practicable, autumn planting is recommended. 



(5) Care should be used in selecting the place for planting seed to 

 get the proper depth of water — from 1 to 3 feet, with a thick layer of 

 soft mud underneath — and the water should be neither quite stagnant 

 nor too swiftly moving. 



