Sowing and Transplanting 11 



difficulty, as the larger seeds may be picked up after falling to the 

 ground, merely storing them during the winter ; or, as in the case 

 of the ash, the " keys " may be cut off in bunches when ripe, 

 though with this species there is usually no difficulty in obtaining 

 a sufficient number of self-sown seedlings in the woods. 



One advantage of the private collection of seeds for estate 

 nurseries is that the seed may be taken from well-grown, middle-aged 

 trees, which have just completed their height-growth, and from 

 which alone the best class of seed can be obtained. The seed 

 produced by too young a tree is characterised by its large size ; that 

 of trees too old, by its small size. Both are unsatisfactory in their 

 germinating capacity and in the vigour of the embryo. 



Where seed is gathered privately, too much attention cannot be 

 given to the condition of the trees from which it is taken. When 

 an excessive crop is produced, the seed should be regarded with 

 suspicion ; and this is especially true of the larch, for this tree gives 

 a superabundant crop of seed as soon as attacked by the larch 

 canker. Conifer seed is less affected by the age of the parent than 

 is that of the broad-leaved species. 



Spring is the best time for sowing the seeds of most species 

 of trees. Under natural conditions, seed ripens in the autumn and 

 usually lies dormant in the ground until spring, large quantities 

 being destroyed by birds and animals during the winter. An 

 exception to this is the elm, the seed of which ripens in June and 

 loses its germinating power unless sown within a short time. 



The following are the quantities of seed per 100 square feet of 

 seed bed which give satisfactory results with a sample of average 

 germinating capacity. Details of nursery work are sometimes 

 expressed in tabular form, but the results obtained in practice vary 

 so enormously that they are apt to be misleading. 



Scotch Pine and Spruce 9 oz. of seed per 100 square feet. 

 Larch I lb. ,, ,, ,, 



Ash - - 12 oz. ,, ,, 



Sycamore - - 13 oz. ,, ,, 



Alder I lb. ,. 



