674 UTILIZATION OF THE FRUITS OF FOREST TRUKS. 



The simplest method of employing solar heat is when the 

 cones are placed on large cloths, laid on dry ground in full 

 sun-light. Or sieves with double bottoms are used, that may 

 be brought under cover in rainy weather. The seeds then 

 can be separated easily from the cones by sieves, and this 

 method yields the most germinative seeds. [In India and 

 other hot countries, solar heat suffices for seed-husking. 



Tr.] 



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2. Seed-kilns. ^JLJL> 



The essential conditions for all seed-kilns is, that the cones 

 are exposed in them to artificial heat of 95, 112, or 140 F., 

 and to air as dry as possible until all the cones are opened. 

 The air is heated partly by stoves in the drying-chamber, or 

 in a special heating-chamber from which it circulates into the 

 former. Most of the German seed-husking establishments 

 employ kilns. 



Objection has been raised to kilns, that the seeds become 

 too dry and lose their germinating power because they remain 

 too long exposed to temperatures of 90 F. and more. This 

 objection was justified by the defective construction of the 

 earlier kilns, and by careless husking. The important im- 

 provements, that have more recently been introduced in 

 seed-husking, have removed these objections completely. 



In any kiln, that aspires to excellency, the seeds should not 

 remain any longer exposed to the heat of the stove than is 

 absolutely necessary for their removal from the cones. 



Whenever the quantity of cones to be opened annually is 

 not very considerable, and sufficient capital is not available for 

 a large establishment, the simplest kind of seed-kiln will 

 suffice. A spacious chamber, which can be suitably closed, 

 containing a tiled Dutch stove, is then sufficient. Bound the 

 stove are stands, the upper portions of which support easily 

 accessible wire- trays, or the cones are hung in nets from the 

 ceiling. If the floor is paved, ventilators supplied at the four 

 corners of the ceiling for the escape of the vapour from the 

 cones and the heat regulated, good results may be expected. 



If there is sufficient space, the stove may be enlarged into a 



