COLLECTION OF SEED. 



25 



METHODS OF STORAGE. 



The necessity of storing seed, which sometimes arises, and the de- 

 sirability of doing so in years of abundant crops, led the Forest 

 Service to undertake experiments to ascertain the best method of 

 storing seed of some of the most important of the coniferous trees. 

 The species chosen for the test were Picea engelmanni, Pinus con- 

 torta, Pinus monticola, Pinus ponder osa, Pinm strobus, and Pseudo- 

 tsuga taxifolia. The seed of these species were obtained in the follow- 

 ing amounts from the sources indicated : 



The seed were spread out in a thin layer and fanned with an electric 

 fan for two days in order to dry thoroughly the outside without 

 affecting the interior. They were then divided into portions of about 

 600 to 800 each, and the total number of portions equally distributed 

 among the following containers : 



1. Ordinary manila paper bags. 



2. Similar bags soaked in paraffin. 



3. Cloth bags. 



4. Cloth bags soaked in boiled linseed oil and dried. 



5. Air-tight glass bottles sealed with paraffin. 



To determine the effect of temperature and geographical location 

 upon the seed, 13 points of storage, widely scattered over the United 

 States, were selected, at which the seed was to be kept under different 

 temperatures. The points of storage were : 



Ann Arbor, Mich. New Haven, Conn. 



Dundee, 111. Pikes Peak, Colo. 



Fort Bayard, N. Mex. Pocatello, Idaho. 



Halsey, Nebr. State College, Pa. 



Ithaca, N. Y. Warsaw, Ky. 



Lake Clear Junction, N. Y. Waukegan, 111. 

 Lawrence, Kans. 



In general, the different conditions of temperature under which the 

 seeds were placed were : 



(1) Ordinary indoor temperature, such as office shelf, always above 

 freezing. 



(2) Fluctuating temperature, as in barn or other outbuilding, 

 where thermometer follows actual variations. 



(3) Uniform low temperature, as in a basement or cellar. 



