42 



THE NURSERY 



and of these four, only the Oak and Hazel can ever advisedly 

 be sown in autumn. Birch may often be sown in September, 

 as it is so very hardy ; and, as its germinative capacity is not 

 strong, this practice may with advantage usually be adopted, 

 though naturally it is shed at a later date. 



The following table will show the average germinative 

 capacity of good seed (spring germination, except for Elm 

 and Silver Fir) : 



* This is extremely variable, some years only about 5 per cent, germinating, 

 and other years 65 per cent. 



When seeds are bought, their germinative capacity should 

 always be tested. It is a very easy matter. Three or four 

 hundred seeds or more (carefully counted) should be placed 

 on a piece of flannel spread over a soup plate ; the flannel 

 must be kept moist by water in the plate, and the plate 

 should be kept in the dark. After a time those seeds which 

 fail to germinate should be accurately counted and their 

 proportion estimated. 



Before sowing seeds in the spring, it is advisable to soak 

 them in tepid water for some hours, so as to favour rapid and 

 even germination. The seed-beds, having been prepared 



