ANNUAL REPORT OF 



Off. Doc. 



for them. The remainder of the seeds were received along through 

 the winter and were stratified to preserve them until spring planting 

 was possible. This occurred April 14, 1897. It was not apparent 

 that the seeds which reached the Station in the latter part of January, 

 1897, had been stratified, but it is apparent from the results of germ- 

 ination that they lacked greatly in vitality as compared with the fall- 

 planted seeds. This is particularly true of the hackberry, honey 

 locust and green ash. The comparison is shown in the following 

 figures: 



Comparing Results of Fall and Spring Planting. 



Three of the thirteen sample of box elder were absolutely worthless 

 upon arrival, having no embryos and consequently produced no plants. 

 These were from Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. A fourth sample 

 from Colorado contained but 30 per cent, of embryos and subsequently 

 yielded but sixteen plants. These four cases were omitted from the 

 foregoing estimate. The bur oaks should also be eliminated from the 

 table, because a few days after the fall samples were planted two 

 full-grown hogs spent a night in search of the acorns and greatly 

 reduced the number of them. 



The soil in which these seeds were planted is a stiff limestone clay 

 loam in excellent condition for the purpose of this experiment, having 

 been under cultivation for farm crops for at least thirty years. The 

 plot slopes slightly to the southeast, being on elevated land, but has 

 no protection from north or west winds. The native forest growth of 

 the land was oak, walnut, hickory, yellow and white pine. 



The seeds were planted in rows three and one-half feet apart, and 



