STORING SEED. 689 



ground. It has also proved useful to mix ashes with sycamore, 

 ash and other seed, in a cask placed in a dry, well- ventilated 

 locality. 



4. Storing on Ridges under Thatch. 



In this method after the seed has been fairly dried, it is 

 placed on long ridges raised about 8 inches or a foot (20 to 30 

 centimeters) above the ground under a light thatch of straw or 

 dead leaves. Or a flat place may be slightly excavated in the 

 ground and covered by a thatched roof high enough to allow 

 a man to inspect the seed. Then the seed can be turned, and 

 its covering modified according to changes of temperature, 

 which is a great advantage. 



This method is applicable to acorns of both species of oak, 

 and beech -nuts, the seed being mixed with sand as before. By 

 altering the thickness of the thatch and turning the acorns, 

 they are protected against frost and over-heating. Beech-nuts 

 require a cool, damp place, and the ground should be watered 

 for them during very dry weather : they are fairly hardy against 

 frost, and well- ventilated places suit them, which may be 

 paved with stones. When thus kept, however, they must be 

 turned and watered regularly. 



5. Stori)i<i in Itoonis. 



Sacks of acorns and chestnuts may be kept in cellars, only 

 when the latter are sufficiently dry and well-ventilated. 



Several other kinds of seed, such as that of silver-fir, may be 

 kept in rooms. In a room free from frost, or at any rate, 

 from low degrees of temperature, silver-fir seed mixed with 

 the scales of the cones may be placed on shelves, either alone, 

 or with saw-dust. The windows must at first be kept open in 

 order to dry the seed, and the latter turned from time to time. 

 This is absolutely necessary for silver-fir seed, which is very 

 liable to become mouldy. It is best kept in the cones, but 

 they can only with great difficulty be kept entire through the 

 winter. 



Dried seed of the birch or alder may be placed in sacks and 

 these suspended in dry rooms. If twigs have been cut with 

 the fruit, they may be tied in small bundles and suspended as 



F.U. Y Y 



