EXTRACTING AND CLEANING FOREST TREE SEED. 



The extraction and cleaning of seed from cone-bearing trees are 

 essential steps in artificial forestation. Economical methods and de- 

 vices for doing this work have not yet been fully developed or stand- 

 ardized in the United States. Even the fundamental conditions 

 necessary to prevent overheating, crushing, molding, and other in- 

 juries to seed, in extracting and cleaning, are not thoroughly under- 

 stood. This is particularly true where small quantities are handled 

 with simple appliances. The following directions, compiled from the 

 experience of a number of members of the Forest Service, are designed 

 to meet the needs of Forest officers and others who extract and clean 

 seed in small amounts, without the facilities of a fully equipped plant. 



STORING CONES BEFORE DRYING. 



It is always preferable, especially when only natural heat is to be 

 used, to begin drying cones at the earliest possible opportunity. 

 When artificial heat is to be used finally, preliminary drying keeps 

 the cones in good condition and enables them to be opened more 

 readily later. The best method of handling cones is to spread them 

 on canvas drying sheets in the open as soon as they are received. 

 In fair weather this should always be done. If the weather is un- 

 favorable, cones should be spread on canvas sheets in a dry building 

 where plenty of air is circulating. Where there is not enough space 

 to do this, they should be dumped into bins separated from each other 

 by slat partitions set about one-half inch apart. Ventilating pipes, 

 through the center of each bin, will increase the air circulation. 



A fair makeshift for these methods is to pile the cones in heaps 

 in the open or in a well- ventilated room. If in the open, they should 

 be covered during wet weather in order to keep them as dry as pos- 

 sible. In any event, the cones should be shoveled or raked frequently 

 to provide ample ventilation and prevent molding or mildewing. 

 They should not be left in tied sacks, but if this is not avoidable they 

 should be stored only in. a dry, cool room. They should never be 

 stored in dark, damp, or ill- ventilated rooms. Such conditions 

 almost invariably cause molding and mildewing, and may lead to pre- 

 mature germination. If mildewing starts, the cones should be spread 

 on sheets in the sun and dried as thoroughly and rapidly as possible. 



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