SEEDS OF CONIFEROUS TREES. 7!> 



moist sand out of doors, and keep them moist until planted. It 

 is generally safe to sow such seeds in the autumn on good land, 

 but some growers prefer to sow them in the spring. This class 

 of seeds requires to be frozen before germinating. If allowed to 

 get dry before being frozen, they should be mixed with moist 

 sand for a few days until plump, or they may be soaked in water, 

 but care must be taken that they do not get water soaked. Some- 

 times the dry, hard shells of such seeds seem to be waterproof. 

 In this case, if the seeds are of special value, it is a good plan to 

 file a hole through the shell, so as to let the seed become moist. 

 Most seeds of this class grow the first year if properly handled, 

 but some of them for example, the Red Cedar and the Wild 

 Thorn even with the best management, will remain dormant in 

 the ground for one year before growing. 



Nut Seeds, as those of the Oak, Hickory and Walnut, 

 should be handled as recommended for seeds with fleshy cover- 

 ings, but are more sensitive about being severely dried. As they 

 do not transplant readily, it is very desirable to plant them where 

 they are to remain permanently. They should be covered about 

 two inches deep. 



Seeds of I/egutninous Trees, as those of the Black Locust, 

 Honey Locust and Coffeetree, will stand severe drying for a w 

 long time and still grow, provided they are treated with hot water 

 just before planting. In this case the hot water should be poured 

 over the seeds shortly before they are sown, and be allowed to 

 stand until cool, when it will be found that some of the seeds 

 have swollen up; these should be picked out, and the remainder 

 be treated again with hot water, and the process repeated until 

 all have swollen. Seedlings of this class generally transplant 

 readily, and are managed in the same way that is here recom- 

 mended for the Ashes and Maples. 



Seeds of Coniferous Trees, such as Pine, Spruce, Tamarack 

 -and ArborviUe, are dry and winged, but the Red Cedar has a 

 fleshy, berry-like covering surrounding its seed. The seeds 

 that grow in cones are most easily gathered before being shed 

 from the cones. The cones should be gathered before they open, 

 and then dried, after which those of most species will open, and 

 the seeds can be threshed out. Cones of a few trees, as those 

 of the Jack Pine, will not open without artificial heat. These 



