672 UTILIZATION OF THE FKUITS OF FOREST TREES. 



FALL OF SKI:D. 



SECTION IV. HARVESTING SEED. 



The season for harvesting seed may be seen from the 

 above tables, from which it is evident that certain seeds fall as 

 soon as they ripen ; fugitive seeds, such as birch, elm, and 

 silver-fir, therefore, must be collected immediately before they 

 ripen ; this somewhat affects the quality of the seed, for 

 ripening after collection is effected only in the larger seeds, or 

 in seeds which remain in their fruit-husks (cones, cupulse). 

 The cones of spruce, pines and larch may be collected during 

 several months. 



The methods of harvesting may be understood from a 

 consideration of the morphology of seed-production. By 

 climbing trees with the help of climbing-irons, ladders, etc., and 



Fig. 361. Net ami saw for collecting fruits. (After Fernando/.) 



plucking the fruits by hand, or with shears, [or with a fruit 

 net and saw (Fig. 361) which is used in India. Tr.] the 

 seeds of the following species should be gathered before they 



