DIRECT SOWING. 48 



Number of Seed* 

 l>er pound. 



Spruce 65,000 



Scotch Pine 70,000 



Larch 75,000 



b. Age. 



The germinating power of seed is greatest immediately 

 after ripening ; it can be maintained for a shorter or 

 longer period according to species and treatment. It 

 follows that, the sooner seed is sown after ripening the 

 better. This becomes absolutely necessary in the case 

 of Elm seed, as it only keeps for a very short time. The 

 seeds of Birch, Alder, Silver Fir, Sweet Chestnut, 

 Beeoh and Oak may be kept until the following spring, 

 but on no account should seeds of these species be used 

 more than six months old. In the case of Lime, Horn- 

 beam, Maples, Ash, Larch, Spruce and Scotch Pine, seed 

 up to two years old may be used ; if older it should be 

 rejected. 



"When seed is stored it must be kept free from 

 moisture, and protected against heating by keeping it 

 in an airy locality and turning it over from time to time. 



c. Source. 



The source whence seed has been obtained is of im- 

 portance. Although trees of all ages can yield excellent 

 seed, as a general rule it may be said that, the best seed 

 is derived from trees which are in the prime of life, 

 namely healthy trees with a full crown, which have just 

 completed their principal height-growth. At the same 



