Collecting and Storing Tree Seeds II 



Firms Sylvestris . . . . about 75,000 



Spruce. 64,500 



Silver Fir 14,960 



Sycamore . . . . . . 4,624 



Walnut 36 



These figures must only be taken as approximate, the 

 seed of various trees of the same species seeming to vary 

 in the number to the pound in a marked degree. The 

 results of careful analysis of one or two kinds may be cited 

 as examples. In one case the number of seeds in 1 Ib. 

 weight of Scotch Fir was 69,600, while in another it had 

 increased to 90,600 ; and in the Larch the numbers were 

 33,900 and 68,000. These differences are, however, mainly 

 due to the individual seeds being weightier in one case than 

 in another, probably owing to the age and health of the 

 tree from which they were collected, the situation and 

 exposure to which it was subjected, etc. However, for 

 all nursery purposes the above figures may be accepted as 

 a fair standard. 



The time of collecting and the after-management of the 

 different forest seeds vary so much that a brief description of 

 those kinds most commonly planted will be found useful : 



Alder seed should be gathered from the trees in October 

 and sown in spring, say May. 



Ash seeds are ripe in October, when they should be 

 collected and kept in moist sand during the winter, and 

 sown in March. 



Austrian, Corsican and Weymouth Pine seeds are 

 treated in every respect like those of Scotch Fir, varying 

 the kiln heat according to the looseness of the cone-bracts. 



Beech seeds are collected in October and November, 

 placed in sand, and sown in April. The young plants are 

 readily affected by frost, and the seed should, therefore, 

 not be sown earlier than the time mentioned. 



Birch seed must be collected from the trees just before 

 it becomes ripe in August, otherwise it is scattered broad- 

 cast and lost for cultivation. March is the time for 

 sowing. 



Cupressus Lawsoniana seed is usually ready for 



