Nezvs and Notes. 173 



Your recent letter of inquiry of October 31, as regards the care 

 of the seed of Red Cedar came to me to-day. May I say, without 

 boasting, that ever since 1903, I have succeeded well in growing 

 red cedar from seed. The germination of the seed, and the 

 growth of the seedlings for the spring of 1910 was especially 

 good. A perfect stand on about 500 square feet of bed was 

 secured. 



The seed — which ripen in one year contrary to what I was 

 taught by a certain teacher of forestry — were gathered in October 

 and November, December or even January. They were immedi- 

 ately stratified without any previous treatment, such as rubbing, 

 soaking, etc. I used boxes six inches deep — placing a layer of 

 sand one inch deep, — then one-half inch of seed berries, — then 

 sand, and repeating this till the box is filled. Moist sand is used. 

 The boxes were then sunk into the ground so that the top of the 

 boxes were just a little above the surface of the ground. Then 

 over the boxes was placed about eight inches of leaves, straw or 

 grass, and weighted down to keep the wind from blowing this 

 covering away. These boxes are then left there without being 

 disturbed, from say October, 1910 until late February or March, 

 1912. They germinate very early that spring (1912), even before 

 winter is over. Sow the seed in nursery with the sand or sep- 

 arated. Cover the seed -|- inch deep with rather fine field 

 sand. Cover the sand with about two inches clean straw or 

 leaves. This protection is necessary. As soon as the seedlings 

 are pushing up through the sand cover at a good rate, remove all 

 of it except what naturally settles about the seedlings covering 

 the soil. This light cover, especially if of clean chaff is a great 

 help for the little trees. It keeps down the weeds, conserves the 

 moisture, and makes everything fine. I used lath-screened and 

 enclosed beds. I have found it absolutely necessary to use every 

 reasonable precaution to conserve moisture in the beds while 

 germination is going on. Wind is the worst enemy. A layer of 

 sand over soil in bed makes a better seed bed and works better — 

 is easily leveled down with a leveling board. This layer of sand 

 is leveled to within ^ inch of top of bottom framing boards. 



I have not experienced any trouble with the "damping-off" 

 fungus. As far as light is concerned, the Red Cedar can be 

 grown without shade screens from the earliest stages of growth 

 on. Cut-worms are serious pests. I have used poisoned bran 



