



of seed well stored, to "be used in case of a contingency 

 arising. This supply, of course, would be coatinually utilised 

 an renewed, thus never permitting seed to accumulate for more 

 than three seasons as it depreciates rapidly. 3?or an annual 

 output of one million four-year-old transplants, a collection 

 of ninety to a hundred bushels of cones will pro ride sufficient 

 seed for one year's sowing under normal conditions. 



On approaching maturity, rapid changes take 



pl?.ce in the cones. The seeds ripen from a creamy-viite soft 

 mass into a grain with a pure white oily albumen and a dark- 

 coloured, hardifcfa, crisp testa in a period under two weeks; 

 and at the same time the cone changes from a light green to 

 a yellowish brown. The opening of the cones is practically 

 co-incident with the change in colour. Therefore the period 

 of collection ie very restricted, unless retarded by damp 

 doudy weather. As the larger seeds and those of greatest 

 fertility are on the central scales of the cones, and con- 

 sequently are first lost when the scales open, it is well 

 tc commence collection while the seed is still slightly 

 under-mature. 



To all practical purposes, the ideal for cone 

 collection is a young tree, under fifty years of age, and 

 branched almost to the ground, ^uch are found scattered or 

 clumped throughout tiie ot. Lawrence flood plain as volunteer 



