CHAPTER III 



ARTIFICIAL REGENERATION : COLLECTION, TESTING, 

 AND TREATMENT OF SEED 



Seed may be obtained either by purchase or by collec- 

 tion in the forest. In the former case the seed should 

 be obtained, by preference, from a trustworthy seedsman, 

 and if it is of a perishable nature, and especially if it 

 has to be obtained from a distant source, it should be 

 purchased only under guarantee from the seller that a 

 certain percentage of the seed will germinate. As an 

 example of this may be quoted the case of the Para- 

 rubber tree (Hevea braziliensis), the seed of which is 

 apt to germinate and go bad while in transit, also 

 various oily or very small seeds or others which quickly 

 deteriorate. These have to be packed with particular 

 care, such as in powdered charcoal or sawdust, and must 

 reach their destination as quickly as possible. 



When collecting the seed in the forest it is desirable 

 to select sound trees in full vigour of growth. Unsound 

 trees or those which have twisted fibre may transmit 

 their inherent defects to their progeny ; trees which are 

 too young may have weak seed, and so may old trees, 

 and a large percentage of it may be barren ; it is also 

 preferable to gather from trees sprung direct from seed 

 rather than from stool-shoots. It is not advisable to 

 3ollect the seed before it is ripe; but, on the other hand, 

 3specially if it be quickly perishable or small, or if it 

 may be scattered by the wind or by the bursting of 

 seed capsules, it is risky to wait too long. 



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