SYLVICULTURE. 



while stored, often show a prolonged period of rest. For White Oak 

 seed the period of rest is only two months; for Red Oak five months. 

 The assumption that frost is required during the resting period for 

 the benefit of the seed is erroneous. The germinating percentage is 

 greatest immediately at the conclusion of the period of rest. 



0. Tests: 



Germinating tests are made with from 50 to 200 grains. 



1. Water test applicable to large seeds. Thrown in water the 

 good seeds will sink, and the bad seeds will float. 



II. Cutting tests, made with a knife, used for testing acorns, 

 chestnuts, nuts of Nutpines, also seeds of Ash, Yellow Poplar, 

 Beech, etc. 



III. Hot-pan tests for conifers, which causes good seeds to jump 

 and burst, poor seeds to burn and char. 



IV. Pot tests made in the following manner: Fill the lower half 

 of a flower pot with sawdust, the upper half with sand in which the 

 seeds are embedded. Place the pot in a basin partially filled with 

 wuter, in a warm room. 



V. Flannel test: Place the seeds between two strips of flannel 

 kept moist by running their ends into a bowl of water standing at 

 a lower level. 



VI. Test in the commercial-test apparatus, which consists of a 

 bottom plate (glass or china), a bell-shaped top (same material) and 

 a clay disk containing 100 small grooves, which fits into the bottom 

 plate. All three parts are open in the center. The clay disk is 

 burned in such a way as to retain good hygroscopic qualities, and is 

 boiled for a number of hours (in water) before using, to kill 

 adherent spores of fungi. Moist sand is kept between the disk and 

 the bottom plate. The grains are inserted into the grooves. 



Paragraph XI. Preparations for planting seed on open ground. 



The germinating bed must offer the seed a proper, constant and 

 equal supply of heat, oxygen and moisture. The actual amount of 

 heat, oxygen and moisture required has not been ascertained scien- 

 tifically. Observation in the woods is the best teacher of the condi- 

 tions securing the largest possible germinating percentage for any 

 given species. 



The preparation for seed-planting may extend over the entire 

 area to be planted; or only over certain strips which may be inter- 

 rupted or continuous ; or it may merely involve the grubbing of plots 

 or spots. Where the ravages of game or mie are feared, irregular 

 working is advisable. 



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