360 The Ruffed Grouse 



ber of seedlings produced, however, will be much lower than the 

 number of viable seeds as shown in these tests. Table 12 gives 

 average figures for viability tests and for the corresponding num- 

 bers of resultant usable plants per pound of seed. By comparing the 

 actual viabihty test witli the average, one may easily compute the 

 probable seedling production per pound of the seed on hand. The 

 rate of seeding may then be adjusted from that recommended in 

 order to compensate for the variation in viability. 



Some seeds, such as tliose of the pines, spruces, arborvitae, and the 

 maples, are capable of immediate germination after maturing. All the 

 shrubs and vines under consideration have a period of dormancy 

 during which certain physiological changes take place prior to the 

 time when germination can take place. Also, some seeds have hard 

 coats that prevent absorption of moisture and thus delay germina- 

 tion. For those species that can be collected early enough for fall 

 planting, the over- wintering in the seed bed provides the necessary 

 conditions to carry them through the dormancy period. Those that 

 are to be spring-planted must be stratified over winter to prepare 

 them. 



Seeds to be stratified should first be soaked for two hours in a 

 saturated chloride of lime solution to prevent molding. The medium 

 for stratification may be acid peat or an equal mixture of sand and 

 peat. The best medium for each species and the number of days 

 of stratification needed are listed in Table 12. The desuable tem- 

 perature for stratification is about 41° F.^ and the seeds should be 

 placed in thin layers in the shghtly moist medium. In handling large 

 kinds, tlie seeds may be mixed generally through the medium. For 

 very small seeds, as bittersweet and mountain ash, it is advisable 

 to keep a layer of cheesecloth above and below to facilitate recovery 

 at the end of the stratification period. 



The hard-coated seeds of hawthorn and sumac must be scarified 

 before planting if quick germination is desired. The seed should 

 be thoroughly dried and then immersed in a solution of concen- 

 trated sulphuric acid ( H2SO4 ) . The liquid should cover the seed to 

 twice its depth and should be stirred occasionally for the twenty- 

 minute treatment. After this the acid is poured off and large quan- 

 tities of water are quickly added. The operator should be very care- 

 ful when adding the water because of the violent boiling that would 



^ Mountain ash seed should be kept at about 32°— 34" F. 



