l8 SEEDAGE. 



sometimes treated in this manner. They are soaked for 24 

 or 36 hours, and it is commonly supposed that if they are 

 exposed to a sharp frost in the meantime, better results 

 will follow. While still wet the seeds are sown. Scalding 

 water may be poured over locust and other seeds to soften 

 their coverings, but seeds should not be boiled, as some- 

 times recommended. 



The germination of bony seeds is often facilitated by filing 

 or cutting away the shell very carefully near the germ, or by 



boring them. A bored nelumbium seed is 



shown in Fig. 15. Moonflower and canna 



seeds are similarly treated. 



Treatment with various chemicals has been 



recommended for the purpose of softening 

 15. Bored seed, integuments, and also for some power which 



strong oxidizing agents are supposed to exert 

 in hastening germination itself, but the advantages are 

 mostly imaginary. Secret and patented "germinator " 

 compounds had better be avoided. 



Pulpy and fleshy coverings should be removed from 

 seeds before sowing. Soft fruits, like berries, are broken 

 up or ground into a pulp, and the seeds are then washed 

 out. This separation may be performed immediately in 

 some cases, but when the pulp adheres to the seed, the 

 whole mass is usually allowed to stand until fermentation 

 and partial decay have liberated the seeds. The pulp will 

 then rise, in most instances, leaving the seeds at the bottom 

 of the vessel. Seeds can be liberated quickly by adding a 

 stick of caustic potash to each pail of water. After the 

 mass has stood an hour or so, the seeds can be rubbed out 

 easily. Even tomato seeds can be cleaned with safety in 

 this manner. Seeds which have thin pulp, as the viburnums 

 and many haws, can be prepared by rubbing them through 

 the hands with sharp sand. Or the scant pulp of such seeds 

 may be allowed to rot off in the stratification box. Fleshy 

 coverings of hard and bony seeds may be removed by mac- 

 eration. Allow them to stand in water at a temperature of 



