BAISING THE PLANTS 81 



The cones on the tray are turned every two or three 

 hours, and the seed that has fallen through the nettmg 

 is collected and taken out. It takes from twelve to fifteen 

 hours at llO"" F. to extract Scots Pine seed. Higher 

 temperatures may extract the seed more quickly, but the 

 germinative power of the seed is impaired. 



Weymouth Pine and Silver Fir seed is extracted very 

 easily. If the cones are placed in a sunny position and 

 turned occasionally, the seeds fall out of their own accord. 

 Larch cones, however, even when opened, wiU often not 

 part with their seed, and must be thrashed to pieces with 

 a flail and the seed sifted from the debris. 



Storage of Seed. 



The best place to store seed such as Acorns and Spanish 

 Chestnut is in a loft or granary, through which there is 

 a free current of air, but where it is not too dry or light. 

 The seeds should be spread on the floor, not deeper than 

 3 or 4 inches, and should be turned frequently. If there 

 is danger from severe frosts, canvas mats or straw should 

 be laid over them. 



Chestnuts also keep very well if " pied down " hke 

 potatoes, but in layers with dry straw between and with 

 plenty of ventilation holes. Beech-nuts can also be stored 

 in this way or mixed with sand. The seeds of Ash, Thorn, 

 Holly, and Hornbeam, do not germinate until about 

 sixteen or eighteen months after they are ripe, and must 

 be mixed with sand and stored in " pies " or " clamps " 

 for that time to allow the outer covering of the seed 

 to rot. 



