28 GROWING THE SEEDLINGS 



ling of each plant individually, and where large numbers 

 are grown makes the process very expensive, although ex- 

 cellent results can be obtained in this manner. 



Shading. Where seeds are allowed to grow in the beds 

 the little plantlets may be very sensitive to sunlight and 

 will need to be protected. If the lath house previously 

 referred to is used, this will be sufficient. Posts may be 

 dug in along the beds and covered with lath, or white 

 muslin may be stretched over the beds. If these are 

 three or four feet above the ground results will be better. 

 The farther south the nursery is located the more important 

 the shading becomes. 



Summer Planting. Practically all fruit seed will ger- 

 minate if planted during the summer, and for the small 

 home nursery spring or summer planting may sometimes 

 be desirable. Growth is not so rapid and this method often 

 calls for an extra year in the nursery. The one difficulty 

 of this plan is to keep the seed in good condition over the 

 winter. They should be kept cool and moist and not 

 exposed to rapid changes or extremes of temperature. 



Freezing Fruit Seed. The idea common in many 

 places that hard shelled seeds must be frozen before they 

 will germinate is quite erroneous. Often, freezing may 

 hasten germination but is in no case necessary. Where 

 cold is made use of in practice, the seeds should be covered 

 with soil to prevent a too rapid fluctuation in temperature. 

 If exposed to frost in the open air germination will be re- 

 tarded, and if too severe will be prevented altogether. 

 All kinds of hard-shelled seeds may be germinated readily 

 in the greenhouse where no signs of frost have been. 



