290 THE UTILISATION OF WOODLAND PRODUCE. 



79 ' 



in autunn, though Elm-seed should be gathered (and sown) 

 when it ripens in June, Birch in July and August, and Silver 

 Fir cones before they fall to pieces in October. Oak, Beech, 

 and other hardwoods should be collected in autumn and stored 

 over winter ; and though most Conifers only open their cones 

 when dry east winds come in spring, yet it is best (especially 



where there are squirrels) 

 to collect the cones of 

 Pine, Spruce, and Larch 

 in autumn. All tree- 

 seeds kept over winter 

 should be stored in a 

 dry, airy place, and 

 turned over from time 

 to time to prevent their 

 heating. Pine and Spruce 

 cones can be opened 

 when wanted in spring 

 by spreading them out 

 in the sun and turning 

 them over frequently ; 

 but where a consider- 

 able quantity is being 

 handled, it is usually 

 treated in a seed -kiln 

 (Fig. 79) by being 



warmed to a temperature of about 100-110, the seed being 

 then allowed to fall down into a cooling-chamber. Larch cones, 

 however, being very resinous, have, after being warmed, to be 

 broken into pieces in revolving drums. All Conifer seeds 

 have to be cleaned by removing their wings before sowing, 

 which reduces their weight and bulk considerably (10 Ibs. 

 winged seeds of Scots Pine give 7 Ibs. clean seed, and of 

 Larch 8 Ibs.) 



Seed-kiln for extracting Scots Pine seeds from 

 the cones. 



a. Furnace. 

 6. Heating-pipes, 

 c. Shelves with trays 

 for cones. 



d. Passage. 



e. Cooling-chambers. 

 /. Outlets for hot air. 



