138 SEEDING AND PLANTING 



of the crop be considered but attention should also be given to 

 the question of available labor, cost of living, and transportation. 



If information is received on the relative abundance of blos- 

 soming and the setting of the fruit during the spring and early 

 summer months and the condition of the developing fruit in late 

 summer, the problem of seed gathering in the autumn is much 

 simpler and less expensive. An estimate of the amount of seed 

 available in each particular locality of the tree's range should be 

 made and the collecting confined to the particular localities where 

 the largest amount of seed of good quality can be obtained. Due 

 consideration, however, must be given to the climate and soil con- 

 ditions under which the seed trees are growing and the suita- 

 bility of the seed for use in the particular localities for which it is 

 desired. 



3. JUDGING THE MATURITY OF TREE SEED 



Before proceeding with the details of collecting, it is necessary 

 to ascertain when the seed is ripe. With many species, particu- 

 larly those which hold their seed but a few days after maturity, 

 a knowledge of the average date of ripening will not suffice. A 

 personal inspection must be made, the fruit opened, and the seeds 

 examined. Fleshy or pulpy fruits usually become soft and change 

 their color at maturity. Thus the fruits of mulberry, hackberry, 

 black gum, persimmon, elder, and haw when mature can be readily 

 recognized from their external appearance. Dry fruits, on the 

 other hand, may or may not show maturity from external appear- 

 ance. Walnut, hickory, oak, maple, ash, and many other seeds of 

 hardwood species assume a more or less marked change in color 

 at maturity. In most coniferous species, however, the external 

 appearance of the fruit is not indicative of seed maturity. When 

 left on the tree to become dry or change in color, it either loses its 

 seed by falling to pieces, or else it opens and the seed escapes. 



It is always best to open the fruit and examine the seed of dry- 

 fruited species. As the seed matures, the outer seed coat usually 

 changes color and the kernel loses its soft, milky characteristics and 

 becomes firm. 



4. TIME FOR COLLECTING TREE SEED 

 The time to collect tree seed depends upon : 

 a. The time the seed matures. 

 6. The character of the seed and fruit. 



