EXTRACTING AND CLEANING FOREST TREE SEED. 7 



be on hand as soon as the first cones are received. The short period 

 during which sun drying can be employed makes any delay in start- 

 ing the work inadvisable. 



The first requisite is a supply of 12 by 14 feet, 8-ounce canvas dry- 

 ing sheets. These are used both for spreading and covering the cones. 

 If canvas sheets are not available wagon covers, tents, tent flies, 

 burlap, and heavy muslin are substitutes. A sufficient number of 

 drying sheets at the outset is essential, and their shortage has hereto- 

 fore been one of the greatest drawbacks to successful work. 



If trays or raised platforms are to be used in drying, in connection 

 with sheets, these should also be ready when the cones are received. 

 One or more shovels and wooden rakes should be available. 



SELECTION O'f SITE. 



The site for open-air drying must be carefully selected. An open 

 place on top of a low ridge or bench is usually preferable. Small 

 openings surrounded by bodies of timber are not suitable, because the 

 trees prevent good circulation of air. The ground should be level, 

 or, preferably, sloping gently toward the south, and should be thor- 

 oughly cleared of brush, weeds, stones, and other rubbish before work 

 begins. If no favorable site can be found in the neighborhood of 

 the collecting area or if it is anticipated that drying can not be com- 

 pleted before wet and cold weather sets in it may be best to select a 

 site at a lower altitude, where drying will be more rapid and can be 

 continued until a later date. The facilities for transporting the cones 

 must, of course, be considered. 



* 



SPREADING THE CONES. 



Before spreading cones for drying it is advisable to run them over 

 a coarse screen to separate loose sticks, twigs, stones, dirt, needles, 

 and other debris. If this is not done such material becomes mixed 

 with the seed and makes future cleaning more difficult. 



After the cones have been cleaned they should be spread on the 

 canvas sheets in a thin layer, ordinarily not more than one cone deep, 

 so that all are exposed to the air. They should be raked over at least 

 once a day in order that all parts of the cones may be exposed to 

 both sun and wind. If lack of space makes it necessary to spread 

 to a greater depth, the cones should be raked or shoveled at least 

 four times a day. Cones should never be piled deep. Considerable 

 seed is usually obtained from the cones by raking while drying, 

 especially during the hottest part of the day. but further extraction 

 is nearly always necessary. 



Keeping cones off the ground. In continued dry weather good 

 results can be obtained by spreading the sheets directly upon the 



