84 OX THE BEST MODES OF STARTING 



X. On the Best Modes of Starting from Seed., or Rearing from 

 Cuttings or Grafts the various neioer Coniferce. By John 

 Alexander, Assistant Forester, Abernethy, Strathspey. 



Every plant can be reared from its seed, and, theoretically, this 

 ought to be the best and surest mode of propagation. But as this 

 cannot always be done, other modes of propagation have been re- 

 sorted to, such as by cuttings and grafts. We at present treat 

 only of the coniferae or cone-bearing trees and shrubs, and shall 

 refer to them — First, of those reared from seeds; secondly, from 

 grafts; and, thirdly, from cuttings. 



1. ConifercB from Seed*. 



The cones should be gathered in the winter season, and after- 

 wards exposed to the sun, or to a gentle heat on a kiln, to facilitate 

 the separation of the seed from the cones. In the Scotch fir, and 

 others of like nature, the cones open in a very short time after they 

 are treated as above. 



Those of the Weymouth pine, silver fir, and balm of Gilead fir, 

 give out their seed with still less trouble; while, on the other hand, 

 the cones of the Pinus Pinaster (cluster pine), Pinus Pinea (stone 

 pine), and allied species, do not open their scales for several months, 

 although treated in the same manner. The cones generally opened 

 by kiln heat are those of the Scotch piue, spruce, and larch. But 

 there are others, as those of the cedar of Lebanon, which should be 

 left for a year at least before the seeds are taken out ; this being 

 necessary on account of the soft nature of the seeds and the great 

 quantity of resin which the cones contain while growing, and which 

 they discharge on being kept for some time after they are gathered. 

 A fact which the writer has verified during the last two years 

 may be mentioned as a guide to cone-gatherers. In the year 1870, 

 twenty cones were gathered from each of ten different trees, whose 

 ages were approximately ascertained by counting the concentric circles 

 in other trees felled beside them. The cones were carefully opened, 

 and all the seeds of the ten different sets sown in separate beds, 

 when the following was the result : — 

 The seeds of 20 cones from a tree 



300 years old produced 10 plants. 



250 „ „ 13 „ 



200 „ „ 50 „ 



