22 EXTRACTING AND CLEANING FOREST TREE SEED. 



foreign matter usually composes a very small proportion of the total 

 weight of seed, and its presence does little if any harm. 



SEED STORING. 



Wherever possible, clean seed should be stored in air-tight recep- 

 tacles of glass or metal. Seed stored in such receptacles retains its 

 vitality under any conditions of temperature and moisture much 

 better than in any other except cold storage, which is seldom, avail- 

 able. Where neither of these methods of storage is available, the 

 seed should be thoroughly dried and stored in a dry and cool place. 

 Some deterioration will take place under these conditions, but ordi- 

 narily not sufficient within one year to be of serious consequence. 

 The storing of seed in cement cellars with the wings attached has 

 been found by Austrian experimenters to give better results than 

 storage with the wings removed. It is doubtful, however, whether 

 the slight saving in vitality offsets the advantage of handling and 

 using clean seed. In every case the seed should be thoroughly pro- 

 tected from rodents, either by the use of poison, by being stored in 

 rodent-proof buildings, or by being hung in sacks out of reach. 



SUMMARY. 

 STORING CONES. 



Make all .arrangements to begin drying the cones as soon as they 

 are received. This is necessary on account of the short season when 

 outdoor drying is possible. 



If storage is necessary, take every precaution to prevent the cones 

 from heating or molding. Never store them in damp or ill-ventilated 

 rooms. 



DRYING BY NATURAL HEAT. 



Use outdoor drying whenever practicable with all species except 

 lodgepole pine. 



Screen the cones before drying to .remove needles and other foreign 

 matter. 



Do not spread the cones too thickly on the drying sheets. 



Protect the cones while drying from rodents and from moisture. 



DRYING BY ARTIFICIAL HEAT. 



Make every effort to secure even distribution of heat and good 

 ventilation. 



Avoid sudden or extreme fluctuations in temperature. 



Never let the temperature rise above 150 F. with lodgepole pine 

 or above 130 F. with other species. 



Do not wet cones before drying, except lodgepole pine, and then 

 only superficially. 



