SCOTCH PINE AND SPRUCE SEED. 753 



arrangements were defective, but is no longer to be feared, owing 

 to improvements in the system. 



The essential conditions of a good seed-kiln are that all the seed 

 may leave the cones and a large percentage of it be fit for germi- 

 nation. The latter condition is secured, if the cones are good, by 

 not subjecting the seed to the hot air any longer than is neces- 

 sary to separate it from the cones. If this cannot be otherwise 

 secured, the seeds should be allowed to fall on a cool floor. As 

 regards germinative power, the result may be considered 

 satisfactory, when the following percentages of good seed are 

 obtained : — 



Spruce 75% 



Black pine 75 ,, 



Scotch pine 70 ,, 



Larch 30-35 „ 



In the interests of economy it should be so arranged that the 

 requisite amount of heat is aftbrded with the least possible 

 expenditure of fuel and is equally distributed through the hot 

 chamber. 



Quality of seed is more important than quantity, if 90% of 

 the resulting seedlings are a centimeter long in eight days a 

 pound of seed will go much further than two pounds of seed of 

 ordinary quality, only 60 to 70% of which germinates in 14 days. 



Whenever the quantity of cones to be opened annually is not 

 very considerable and sufficient capital is not available for a large 

 establishment, the simplest kind of seed-kiln will suffice. A 

 spacious chamber, which can be suitably closed, containing a 

 tiled Dutch stove, is then sufficient. Round the stove are 

 stands, the upper portions of which support easily accessible 

 wire-trays, or the cones are hung in nets from the ceiling. If 

 the floor is paved, ventilators supplied at the four corners ol 

 the ceiling for the escape of the vapour from the cones and the 

 heat regulated, good results may be expected. 



If there is sufficient space, the stove may be enlarged into a 

 horse-shoe shaped heating-apparatus round the interior of the 

 chamber and sometimes partly sunk into the floor. The stove 

 must be made of brick-work or trachite {BacJistein) ; otherwise a 

 steady temperature is not obtainable. 



VOL. V. 3 c 



