140 SEEDING AND PLANTING 



often best to collect it by more than one method. If squirrel 

 hoards are available the time for collecting coniferous seed can be 

 much lengthened as the cones remain unopened in squirrel hoards 

 for weeks after those on the trees have opened and scattered 

 their seed. 



6. Collecting from the Ground or from a Water Surface 



The only species that can be gathered from the ground advan- 

 tageously are those that produce large fruit which falls to the 

 ground unopened or which produces large, heavy seed that is not 

 scattered by the wind as it escapes from the fruit. At times of 

 heavy seed crops, many of the smaller-fruited species which are 

 disseminated by the wind are blown into depressions or collect in 

 large quantities at the foot of sloping rocks from where they can 

 be collected at little cost. The winged fruit of elm, maple, and 

 ash is often collected in such places. 



When seed trees of birch, elm, and maple grow along water 

 courses, the seed falling on the surface is often carried into eddies 

 or along the bank where it collects in large quantities. After 

 gathering it should be thoroughly dried in the shade before sack- 

 ing for transportation to the seed-house or curing-shed. 



7. Collecting Direct from the Tree 



In most instances, tree seed must be collected from the tree by 

 hand picking before the fruit begins to fall and before it begins 

 to open and scatter its seed. This applies in particular to the 

 following classes of fruit : 



a. Fruit too small to be economically picked from the ground 

 after falling. 



b. Fruit that is wind disseminated. 



c. Fruit that bears small seed which falls from it while still 

 attached to the tree. 



d. Fruit that bears seed that is wind disseminated. 



Fruit too small to be economically picked from the ground after 

 falling although not scattered by the wind is illustrated in hack- 

 berry, mulberry, cherry, holly, and black gum. In these species 

 the fruit after maturity falls to the ground beneath the parent 

 tree or is scattered by birds that pick it from the tree. 



Wind-disseminated fruit is illustrated in birch, alder, ironwood, 

 hornbeam, elm, tulip, sycamore, locust, maple, basswood, and 



