DIRECT SOWINGS. 213 



ing seeds may be extracted by threshing the cones 

 with a flail or by some other means. But it is seldom 

 worth while obtaining these seeds, because they are 

 generally barren. 



Cones ought to be gathered with the hand, and 

 not by shaking the tree, which does them consider- 

 able damage. The gathering is begun as soon as 

 the cones are ripe, i.e., at the end of autumn and 

 during the whole of winter. Cones gathered in 

 spring and those picked up from the ground are, gene- 

 rally speaking, already open, and the good seeds 

 have already fallen out. 



In the silver fir the scales disarticulate and fall 

 naturally with the seeds. Hence it is sufficient to 

 gather the cones some days before their natural 

 dissemination, and to spread them out on the granary 

 floor and stir them about from time to time. The 

 seeds are then separated by riddling. 



Whatever the method employed, the seeds are 

 obtained with their wings. This is inconvenient, as 

 carriage becomes more expensive ; but above all it 

 prevents the seeds from being scattered uniformly, 

 as they are liable to be carried away by the wind, 

 and it is impossible to judge with any accuracy of 

 the quantity which leaves the hand. Hence the 

 wings should be removed ; but this process is fraught 

 with risks when not done by conscientious hands. 



In the majority of cases the seeds are deprived of 

 their wings by putting them up in heaps, which are 

 watered and allowed to stand thus until, on forcing 

 the hand in, a sensation of heat is felt. Then by 

 lightly rubbing the seeds together, the wings easily 



