PROPAGATIOX OF TREES AND SHRUBS FROM SEED. 157 



the plants. It is a good plaa where pine needles are plenty to 

 cover the seed bed thinly between the rows with them ; this keeps 

 down the weeds, saves much watering, and keeps the soil from 

 washing or baking. If the ground is very dry at the time of sow- 

 ing they will require a slight watering ; otherwise they will not 

 need it. In my experience there are few seeds that require so 

 little water as those of conifers during germination. 



The critical time with young conifers is the first three months 

 of their existence, until they have made the crown bud ; after that 

 time there is very little danger, but until then extreme watchful- 

 ness is very necessary ; a great quantity of rain or a scorching 

 sun will often prove fatal to thousands. Stirring the soil after 

 heavy rains, and tilting the screens as soon as the sun is gone from 

 them, or sifting dry soil amongst the beds of over-wet seedlings, 

 is of great benefit. After the muggy weather of August is past 

 they will require very little care the rest of the j^ear. At the ap- 

 proach of cold weather they are best protected by a slight cover- 

 ing between the rows, and a few pine branches or a little meadow 

 ha}' spread over the tops of the young plants will keep them in 

 good condition until spring. 



The Pines, such as the Scotch, Austrian, and Red, should not 

 stand more than one year in the seed bed witliout transplanting, 

 unless sown very thinly. The White, Black, and Norway Spruces 

 will bardly be fit to transplant until the end of the second season. 

 The Larch makes better plants if transplanted at one year, but 

 will stand two if thinly sown. The Silver Fir, Balsam Fir, Hem- 

 lock, and others of that section may stand in the seed bed two 

 years, while the Arbor Vitae should be transplanted after the first 

 season. The seeds of the Juniperus and Taxas, of all species, 

 do not germinate until the second 3'ear, and it is well to treat them 

 as I have recommended for all slow-growing seeds. The Ginkgo, 

 if fresh, will come up the first year, though I have had them lying 

 in the ground two years. The Pinus Cemhra and otherStone 

 Pines will lie in the ground until the second 3'ear, though a few 

 may come up the first. 



The seeds of the Conifers, with the exception of the Silver Firs, 

 will, if kept in a cool, dry place, retain their germinating powers 

 for a number of years, and even under adverse circumstances. A 

 few years ago we had some branches of Finns contorta sent us, 

 which had the cones of six years upon them. Each cone was 

 opened separately and the seed carefull}' sown and labelled, and a 



