48 FARM FORESTRY 



for this purpose, the covering being made very thin. Care 

 must be taken not to let the seeds dry out or allow squirrels 

 or other rodents to get at them. Where there is danger of 

 the seeds being destroyed the box or pit can be covered with 

 wire netting. 



Treatment of Seeds before Storing. The outer coatings 

 of seeds that are to be hung in bags over winter should be 

 thoroughly dried so as to prevent molding. They should be 

 spread out where they will dry in the wind but not in the sun. 

 Seeds that are produced in pods like locust, coffeetree, and 

 catalpa should be removed from the pods, and the outer husks 

 should be removed from hickory nuts, walnuts and butternuts. 

 The cones of tulip, birch, alder and evergreen trees should be 

 gathered and dried when the seed can easily be shaken or 

 beaten out. The fruit of osage orange, cherry and other pulpy 

 fruits should be placed in water and allowed to ferment. 

 The seed can then easily be removed from the fleshy covering 

 by stirring or beating, and spread out to dry. 



Treatment of Seeds Before Planting. Seeds that are 

 stored dry will germinate much quicker if they are allowed to 

 soak several hours in warm water. Seeds of ash, tulip, maple 

 and catalpa should be soaked for 3 or 4 hours in warm water 

 and should be planted at once and not allowed to dry out. 

 Hard seeds like coffeetree and locust should be placed in 

 very hot water and allowed to stand for several days. The 

 seed that swells should be planted at once and the rest given 

 another treatment in hot water. The seed of cedar is often 

 placed in lye for a short time to dissolve the waxy coating 

 which prevents germination sometimes for several years. 



Planting the Seed in the Nursery. The seed should be 

 planted in the nursery as early in the spring as possible. It 

 is usual to plant the seed in rows, which should be far enough 

 apart to allow for easy cultivation. Small seeds can be sown 

 broadcast like lettuce and covered lightly with fine soil. Acorns 

 and nuts should be sown two or three inches apart in the rows, 



