Seeds that ripen early: Gathering and -keeping of Seeds. 33 



from these trees are set in the soil without roots. The success of 

 cuttings depends much on the sea- 

 son ; if very dry and hot, they may 

 fail, and if moist and cool, they 

 will grow. But a plant with suffi- 

 cient root in the beginning has far 

 better chances of getting well 

 started, and when properly set, in 

 a soil where it can get moisture, it 

 is almost sure to succeed. 



Seed tiiat Ripen in Spring or Early 

 Summer. 



128. The elms, willows, poplars, 



and soft maples mature their seeds 

 in the spring or early summer, and 

 if not allowed to become too dry, may be carried 

 to a considerable distance, but should be planted 

 as soon as may be in the same season. They should 

 be lightly covered, and the ground should be kept 

 moist and partly shaded, until they take root and 

 get well sprouted. Many of these seeds may be 

 gathered from the surface of still water, as they 

 have fallen from trees along the banks. When 

 planted, they should be but thinly covered with 

 soil, and shaded from the sun.. They will gen- 

 erally get well rooted the first year, and ready for 

 an early start in the next season. 



20. Seeds of the Sycamore Maple (Acer 

 pseudo-plalanus). 



L Ripe Seeds 

 the Poplar before 

 they fall. 





The Gathering and Keeping of Seeds. 

 129. Tree seeds should generally be gathered as 

 soon as they are ripe, and if not before, soon after 

 they have fallen from the tree. They do not re- 

 tain their vitality long; but if not planted the 

 same fall, may generally be kept till the next 

 spring. As a general rule, they loose their germ- 

 inating power within a year. The mode of keep- 

 ing them over is elsewhere described in different 

 kinds of trees, and can not be generally stated, except that they 



