Seed Saving \ 5 



by surrounding the tins with ashes. A sheet of glass, or thin 

 butter- nraslin, will keep grasshoppers away. The period during 

 which this danger lasts is only a short one, for young trees soon 

 make a woody stem. 



The first transplanting or " pricking out " should be done just 

 as soon as the seedlings have grown the first fibrous roots,* say 

 when they are an inch and a half high. The seedlings are carefully 

 lifted out of the seed tins in small clumps and divided up with- 

 out breaking any of the roots. They are then planted into boxes 

 or tins at distances of two and a half to three inches apart, and 

 well watered down to settle the soil around the roots. The best 

 transplant box is the common paraffin tin cut in half length- 

 ways. This holds 2o transplants, and is always a convenient size 

 ami weight for handling later. Partial shade, such as an oblong 

 hessian frame, will be necessary until all signs of wilting pass 

 off, when the tins may be placed right out in the open to grow 

 strongly and sturdily until the time arrives for planting out. 

 The best average size of transplants for permanent planting is 

 six inches. 



Some tree seeds, particularly Acacias, Robinias, and Gleditchias, 

 need a preliminary soaking before they are sown. In the case of 

 Acacias it is necessary to pour foiling water on the seeds, and 

 allow the seed to remain in the water until swollen. Robinia 

 and Gleditchia germinate much more quickly and regularly if 

 allowed to stand in warm water for a few hours. Some seeds, 

 again, must be sown immediately they arrive, because the germ 

 perishes very soon after the seed is gathered. These include 

 Cedrus deodora, Araucaria, Cedrella, Acorns and Grevillea. 

 Eucalyptus, Pines, Cypresses, and Acacias hold their germination 

 foir a long time, and may be sown at any convenient time after 

 the seed is obtained. 



The success of seed sowing depends largely upon climatic con- 

 ditions. Our experience indicates that Autumn and Early Spring 

 are the best seasons for the work. During the humid Summer 

 months there is a grave risk of loss through " damping off " by 

 fungous disease, for it is difficult to regulate the supply of mois- 

 ture in rainy weather except where a " propagating house," or 

 greenhouse, is available. During the Winter months germination 

 becomes slow and Irregular. Nearly all the most useful varieties 

 of Gums wiJl, if sown in March or April, be ready to plant out 

 in November of the following Spring. Pines and Cypresses stand 

 longer in the seedling tins^aad are perhaps best raised in early 

 Spring, and planted out 12 or 15 months later. 

 , The time required for germination differs with each type, and 

 again varies with temperature, &c. The following average periods 

 may be a useful guide, and will be found fairly accurate for 

 Autumn (April) sown seeds: 



*This will be when the second pair of leaves is made, except in the case of 

 Conifers. 



