PLANT PROPAGATION 



54. Soaking of seed is often employed as a substitute 

 for stratification, the dry seed (locust, apple) being cov- 

 ered with water from half a day to two or three days 

 before sowing. This is of special use in cases where the 

 seeds have become unusually dry. Many nurseries now 

 store their peach pits dry from harvest time through 

 the winter until within two weeks of planting time, when 

 the seeds are placed in barrels of water. Since imported 



FIG. 26 SEED STUDY CARDS 



In each circle punched in cardboard seeds are placed; at left, corn oi 

 various kinds; at right, clovers. The cards are then covered with glass and fas- 

 tened together with adhesive tape or passepartout. 



apple seeds do not reach the United States before mid- 

 winter, they are generally soaked two or three days, and 

 then placed in stout cotton bags between cakes of ice 

 and kept thus until planting time arrives. Due to the 

 impracticability and uncertainty of the latter process, 

 many nurserymen in this country prefer to buy dormant 

 apple, cherry and other seedling trees from abroad 

 (159). These . are planted in nursery rows and late' 

 budded to the desired varieties. 



