GARDEN MAKING 



137 



seeds of nut trees and our stone fruits have testas so thick 

 that they may remain in the earth for a year or more before 

 growing. In such cases germination may be hastened by 

 cracking the shells or by stratifying the seeds. The latter 

 process consists in plac- 

 ing the seeds in layers 

 in boxes of moist sand 

 or moss and keeping 

 them moist during the 

 winter. The seeds may 

 be kept in a cool cel- 

 lar or buried a foot or 

 more deep in a well- 

 drained spot. Seeds 

 may fail to grow for 

 various reasons. They 

 may be too old, may 

 have been frozen before 

 being thoroughly dried, 

 their testas may exclude 

 oxygen or moisture, or 

 they may have been 

 immature when gath- 

 ered. The seeds of 

 many plants will not 

 grow the same season 

 they are produced, even 

 if surrounded by the 

 most favorable circum- 

 stances. The length of 

 time that good seeds retain their vitality depends somewhat 

 upon the species. A few seeds must be planted almost as soon 

 as ripe if they are to grow at all, while others will remain alive 

 for from two to twenty years. In general, starchy seeds retain 



98. A handy receptacle for seeds, labels, 

 and other small things 



This is easily made and can be carried into the 

 garden whenever planting is to be done 



