HANDLING SMALL SEED USE OF PLANTERS 23 



and makes the seed more easy to move at planting 

 time. 



Handling Small Seed. Many nursery companies prefer 

 to stratify the small seed in the nursery row rather than use 

 seed beds. Apple, pear and quince seeds may be ger- 

 minated in this way, but there is always the uncertainty 

 of the number that will grow. Where the per cent that 



FIG. 8. A Southern Propagating House. 



will germinate is not known, the seed must either be put in 

 very thick and then thinned out as they come up, or the 

 gaps in the nursery row must be replanted in the spring. 

 Another objection is that grass and weeds start as early 

 in the spring as the seed and much fine work is necessary 

 while the young plants are very small. 



Use of Planters. A few companies claim success by 

 this method with large seeds like peach, plum and apricot, 



