203 AGRICULTURE. 



main on the trees all winter. This indicates 

 that a cold, moist ground would be disastrous to 

 them ; consequently, these seeds are shed in the 

 warm days of spring, the higher temperature 

 unsealing the waxy covering of the honey-locust, 

 and the spring winds widely disseminating the 

 delicately winged seeds of the catalpa. By fol- 

 lowing these hints of nature, man may perform 

 and regulate these processes almost at will. 



Stratification is a very practical and simple 

 method of preparing many seeds having a hard 

 or tough outer covering for germination. By 

 this means the seeds are protected from mice, 

 chipmunks, squirrels, etc., and at the same time 

 given the conditions furnished by nature. 



Directions for stratifying seeds: (<?) In October or 

 November take the seeds of cherry, apple, peach, plum, 

 hickory, and walnut, which have been collected during 

 the summer and autumn. 



(b) Place, in a shallo\v box, a layer of sand, leaf- 

 mould, or even garden soil, then a layer of the seeds; in 

 this way alternate a layer of sand with one of seeds until 

 the box is full. 



(c] Sink the box in the ground in some shady place, 

 and leave uncovered, exposed to the winter snows, rains, 

 and frosts until the following spring. 



(</) When the weather permits, plant thickly in rows 

 in well-prepared soil. (See " Tillage.") 



II. The Testing of Seeds. 



i. T/ic Importance of Seed-testing prepara- 

 tory to planting, and the simple methods by 

 which it may be done, are not generally realized. 



