GOOD TREES AND SHRUBS 201 



not be taken off the trees for two years, and those of the 

 Cedar of Lebanon may be allowed to remain for three 

 years, or even longer. Cones should be kept in a warm, 

 dry place. With sun and artificial heat the scales open 

 more readily, and opening is also facilitated by soaking 

 them in water for a day or so, and by burying them in 

 sand, &c., in February or March for six weeks or two 

 months, by which time the seeds may be liberated and taken 

 out with comparative ease. If the last-named method be 

 adopted, sow the seed immediately it is set free, or it will 

 soon lose its germinating power. The seed in the cones 

 remains good for several years, provided the scales are not 

 opened, and when sown out of doors, March and April are 

 the best months for the purpose. 



Conifer seeds vary much in size, and it is curious that 

 some of the loftiest members of the family produce the 

 smallest seed. For instance, that of the Mammoth Tree of 

 California, Sequoia gigantea, is smaller than the seed produced 

 by many shrubs less than four feet high. Larch seed should 

 only be collected from trees that are thoroughly healthy and 

 vigorous, as seedlings raised from seed taken from weakly 

 trees are liable to the disastrous Larch disease. 



As a rule, seedling Conifers are rather slow in growth for 

 the first two or three years, but with proper attention, reason- 

 able progress is made afterwards. When the seedlings are 

 of sufficient size, lift them out of the seed-beds, and plant in 

 suitable soil in nursery rows, protecting them from the sun 

 with small spruce branches, until they have established them- 

 selves in their fresh quarters. 



Some Conifers make better specimens raised from seeds 

 than raised from cuttings or by grafting. To illustrate 

 what we mean, it is only necessary to mention Cunninghamia 

 sinensis as a typical example that should not be raised by 

 either of the last-named methods, for the reason that the 

 plants generally become flat-headed, whereas seedlings always 

 possess a leader. It is, however, well-known to practical men, 

 but not to the ordinary amateur, that the leading shoots of 

 some plants, particularly those raised from lateral growths, 

 must be cut back before a really good leader can be secured. 

 The tops are sometimes bent over and tied down with the 

 same object in view, and after a time fresh growth will appear 

 at the desired place. When the original leader is a few 

 inches in length, it should be removed and the new one 

 allowed to take its place. 



With seeds of certain kinds of trees, the following treat- 

 ment, on account of the length of time they lie dormant in 



