THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 69 



fall after the fertilization of the flowers in the spring. Most 

 of the other important conifers ripen their seed in the fall of 

 the same season. Shortly after the seed is ripe, the cones 

 open and allow it to disseminate, consequently they must be 

 gathered before this occurs. 



The cones are gathered either by climbing the trees and 

 cutting them off from the branches, by picking from the tops 

 of felled trees, or by robbing squirrels' hoards. Where squir- 

 rels are abundant in the forest, the last method is the cheap- 

 est. Climbing trees is practiced only where the trees are 

 small. When this method is employed, the workmen should 

 be equipped with linemen's belts and climbers. Picking from 

 felled trees is readily carried on except where dense under- 

 brush interferes, as is the case in the ordinary Douglas fir 

 forest. 



Trees growing in the open, with large crowns extending 

 down the greater part of the bole, bear cones niore abundantly 

 than trees in dense forests, and for this reason collecting 

 from scattered open growths can be done more cheaply than 

 on logging areas. Often large quantities of cones can be pur- 

 chased from settlers who will collect and deliver them at cen- 

 tral points at a stipulated price. When this method is em- 

 ployed, however, frequent examination of the cones should be 

 made to ascertain that they contain the full number of seed, 

 for often opened cones from which a part or all of the seed 

 has been disseminated will be offered for sale. Insect larvae 

 also often destroy a large proportion of the seed, particularly 

 when the crop is light and care should be taken that the cones 

 purchased are not infested. The prices paid for cones vary 

 from 25 cents to 50 cents per sack for the larger cones, like 

 yellow and white pine, and 50 cents to $1.00 for Douglas fir 

 and spruce, depending upon the abundance of the crop. 



After the cones are gathered the seed must be extracted 

 and cleaned. Where climatic conditions in the fall of the year 

 will permit air-drying, the cones may be spread out on sheets 

 or blankets where they will be exposed to the sun and wind. 

 Under this treatment they will open in from 3 to 6 days, 



