THE SOWING OF SEEDS 41 



its germinative power very quickly ; so also is this the case, 

 though to a less extent, with Oak, Spanish Chestnut, Birch, 

 Alder, Hazel, and Beech ; these latter trees retaining a good 

 germinative capacity for about 6 months. And though other 

 seed may keep for another year, it should never be used if 

 newer seed can be obtained. The seed of Wych Elm, 

 Poplars, and Willow must always be sown directly it is ripe 

 this will be at the end of May and the beginning of June for 

 its germinative power is lost in a few weeks. It should 

 be noted that English Elm never ripens its seed in this 

 country. 



The seed of Silver Fir, which is ripe in the autumn, 

 should usually be sown at once, but it is absolutely impera- 

 tive that the seed-beds should be protected from frosts, and 

 also from hot sun in the summer. If sown in the spring the 

 same germinative capacity cannot be expected. 



The seed of nearly all other trees is ripe in October ; 

 though Birch ripens its seed at the end of August, and it is 

 naturally shed up to about March. Alder ripens its seed at 

 the end of September, and it is usually shed in mid-winter 

 and early spring ; and Weymouth Pine ripens its seed about 

 the beginning of September, and sheds it immediately. 



There is, however, no particular reason why seeds of any 

 common tree, except Elm, Poplar, Willow, and Silver Fir, 

 should not be stored for a few months and sown in the 

 spring, so as to lessen the liability to damage from late frosts 

 and from vermin. There is another advantage in spring 

 sowing, and that is, that the surface of the seed-bed, prepared 

 in spring, is in a far better mechanical condition for seedlings 

 to break through, than can ever be the case with a seed-bed 

 prepared in the autumn. Especially is this the case where 

 small seed are concerned ; it would not much matter in the 

 case of Oak, Spanish Chestnut, or Beech. 



Now, although spring sowing must be the general rule in 

 nurseries, except as already stated, large seed such as Walnut, 

 Spanish Chestnut, Oak, and Hazel whose cotyledons remain 

 below the surface of the ground, are often sown in Autumn, 

 though, in the case of the two former, the risks are very great ; 



