PROPAGATION. 93 



ment to grow them, viz., dry seeds, seeds with fleshy 

 coverings, nut seeds, and leguminous tree seeds. 



Dry Seeds, like those of the Ash, Birch, Hard Maple, 

 and Box-elder, are very certain to grow when sown in the 

 spring in drills as soon as the soil can be easily worked, in 

 the same way as recommended for Soft Maple and Elm. 

 If not sown until spring they will have to be kept over 

 winter, and, when only a small quantity is to be kept 

 over, this is done best by spreading the seeds on the sur- 

 face of the hard ground, covering with an inverted box 

 and digging a ditch around it to carry off the water, or 

 the seeds may be mixed with sand and kept in a dry, 

 cool place. Large quantities may be kept on dry ground 

 under a shed. These seeds will stand considerable dry- 

 ing, but if allowed to become very dry, hot, or moist 

 their vitality may be injured or destroyed. 



Seeds with Fleshy Coverings, as those of the Cherry 

 and Plum, should be kept from getting dry before planting. 

 The best way to handle them is to separate them from 

 the pulp, mix with moist sand out of doors, and keep 

 them moist until planted. It is generally safe to sow 

 such seeds in the autumn on good land, but some growers 

 prefer to sow them in the spring. This class of seeds 

 should be frozen before germinating. If allowed to get 

 dry before being frozen, they should be mixed with moist 

 sand for a few days until plump, or they may be soaked 

 in water, but care should be taken that they do not get 

 water-soaked. Sometimes the dry, hard shells of such 

 seeds seem to be waterproof. In this case, if the seeds 

 are of special value, it is a good plan to file a hole through 

 the shell, so as to let the seed become moist. Most seeds 

 of this class grow the first year if properly handled, but 

 some of them — for example, the Red Cedar and the Wild 

 Thorn — even with the best management, will remain 

 dormant in the ground for one year before growing. 



