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from moulding in the autumn or early winter, to keep them damp, 

 but not wet, and to keep them cold, avoiding sudden changes of 

 temperature as much as possible. Mr. Fuller gives in his book on nut 

 culture very exact directions. Take only sound nuts. Provide a box 

 with a bottom pierced with small holes, which are to be covered with 

 a bit of pottery. Put a layer of chestnuts on a layer of "moist, 

 sharp sand" which is an inch deep. Then another layer of sand, and 

 on top of this another layer of chestnuts, and so on. Tlh-en cover with 

 sand two inches deep to allow for settling. Cover box with wire 

 petting or strips of board to keep the mice out. Bury the box in, 

 jBome well-drained place in the ground, covering it with a foot of 

 leaves. Some friends of mine scrape away leaves from under a tree, 

 place the nuts on top of the ground and cover them with leaves and 

 leave them until spring. 



I am of the opinion, however, that if one wants to plant but a hun- 

 dred or two chestnuts that he will have no cause to regret it if he 

 prepares his bed in the autumn, makes a shallow furrow, places his 

 chestnuts in it, covering them loosely with leaves an inch deep and 

 then gives them a covering of half an inch of loose, rich soil. Mak- 

 ing allowances for failures from animals, etc., I have about eighty 

 per cent, of the nuts so planted to grow. Never allow a seed chest- 

 nut to become dry. 



