32 MISC. PUBLICATION 303, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



months, as August-April. The first month indicates when the fruit 

 ripens and is available for collection either by man or wildlife; the 

 second month shows approximately how long the fruit persists on 

 the plant. 



The data in this publication concerned with time of availability 

 of fruit must be used with caution. The average dates of ripening 

 of the fruit of a species with a considerable north-south range may 

 have a range of several months, beginning earliest in the south ancl 

 occurring later in the north. Furthermore, local weather conditions 

 or other factors may delay or hasten the usual period of ripening. 

 Therefore, when fruit is said to be available from August to April, 

 it is meant that this appears to be the usual time. It does not mean 

 that fruit always occurs on a particular bush during all that time. 

 Only local field studies can discover when fruits are usually avail- 

 able in any given region. 



Seed collectors know also that fruits particularly attractive to birds 

 may not remain on the plant for any length of time if birds are 

 plentiful. The seeds of Juniperus ashei, for instance, ordinarily per- 

 sist like most other juniper fruits, but in 1936 the ripe fruits in the 

 Ozarks were nearly cleaned off by immense flocks of robins. 



PROPAGATION 



A work of this sort can hardly deal in detail with methods of 

 propagation, but certain fundamental principles should be stated 

 that may contribute to a better understanding of propagation. Occa- 

 sional notes indicating usual methods will be found under genera; 

 if methods vary with species, under the species. 



In general, propagation of plants from seed produces more vig- 

 orous plants. Because of this, plants intended for use on difficult, 

 eroded sites should preferably be grown from seed. Reproduction 

 in this manner involves determination of species and collection, stor- 

 age, and planting. 



Proper collection of good, viable seed demands care and a knowl- 

 edge of the fruiting period of the plant. Seed falling earliest is 

 usually of poorest quality. In the list of woody plants the date of 

 seed ripening is indicated first, but it may vary considerably from 

 one place to another. In fact, as far as seed collection is concerned, 

 it would be sufficient to say that the fruit of a species ripens in early 

 or late spring, summer, or fall. A seed collector wisely gets to the 

 plants at the earliest date of ripening to be sure that he, instead of 

 birds, squirrels, or other rodents, gets the major share of the crop. 

 Even so, when seed is retained well into the winter, collection may 

 often be deferred until later. But in any event, before seed is col- 

 lected its soundness and worth should always be determined by cut- 

 ting tests. The fruit should be mature, as slightly unripe seed has 

 a decidedly poorer keeping quality than fully ripe seed. 



Storage of seed depends on the species of plant. Some seed must 

 be sown at once for best results ; others must be stratified. Seed with 

 fleshy parts usually must be cleaned by fermentation, washing, and 

 drying before being stored dry. Preservation of the moisture con- 

 tent of seed is of great importance during handling and storing. 

 Some seed, such as that of red and silver maples, willows, and poplars, 

 is killed if the water content drops below 35 percent. Seed of many 



