NATIVE TREES 



The time for collecting seeds varies from 

 April to November, and many trees retain their 

 seeds during the winter. As the seed production 

 of some trees is variable, it is important to col- 

 lect them whenever the trees produce a good 

 crop. Seeds of the best quality and greatest 

 vitality are secured from trees that grow in the 

 open, where there is an abundance of light and 

 air. The vitality of tree seeds varies from two 

 weeks to nine years. The seeds of the Maples, 

 Elms, Birches, Poplars, and Willows should be 

 planted soon after maturity, as their seeds have 

 the shortest duration of vitality. In early sum- 

 mer hundreds of young seedling Maples may be 

 found. The Hickorynuts, Walnuts, Butternuts, 

 Beechnuts, Acorns, Chestnuts, and Buckeyes 

 survive scarcely a season. The seeds of the 

 Leguminosae — Locusts, Yellowwood, Kentucky 

 Coffee-Tree, and Redbud — ^have the longest pe- 

 riod of vitality. 



Sow seeds in the seed-bed, and as soon as 

 the seedlings are large enough transplant them 

 to the nursery. In two or three years they will 

 be sufficiently developed to be removed to a per- 

 manent place. The children can have the pleas- 

 ure of transplanting and caring for the trees 

 they have watched and studied, and anticipating 

 their future beauty and usefulness. 



To secure the most satisfactory results in 

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