34 Forest Club Annual 



same time it separates open from closed cones. A churn may 

 easily be made from a barrel or box by removing the sides 

 and nailing on slats. These slats should be far enough apart 

 to allow the average closed cone to go through but not the 

 larger opened cones. A stick or shaft is placed through the 

 axis of the churn and a crank made on one end. The two pro- 

 truding ends of the shaft may be placed between the crotches 

 of two trees or on a frame so that it can be easily revolved. 

 A few cross pieces or blocks of wood inside the churn, against 

 which the cones may strike, aid greatly in shaking out the 

 seed. After several minutes churning, the closed cones and 

 seed should have fallen out. The empty cones may then be 

 taken out by removing two or three slats which should be 

 arranged for this purpose. The seed and the closed cones 

 are caught on canvas and are gathered together to be cleaned. 



Cleaning seed consists in removing all foreign substances 

 such as dirt, needles, cone-scales and wings. Wings may be 

 removed by either the wet or the dry method. Each method 

 has its distinctive advantages. The wet process is used where 

 great quantities of seed are to be cleaned for it is a quicker 

 method. The seeds are spread out several inches deep on a 

 floor and sprinkled with water. They are then beaten with 

 light leather flails. Too heavy flails break the seeds. When 

 moist the wings come off very readily. This process is not 

 safe unless the seeds are to be used soon, for moisture is likely 

 to injure the vitality. The more commonly used and safer 

 process is the dry method. The seeds are placed in sacks and 

 beaten with flails, rubbed and shaken until the wings are all 

 removed. With such small seeds as those of Lodgepole Pine, 

 not more than five pounds should be placed in a sack if all 

 wings are to be loosened. After a thorough rubbing the seeds 

 are winnowed by a fanning mill or the wind. This blows 

 away the wings, the light worthless seeds, and the finer par- 

 ticles of dirt. If, however, the wings are not all removed, 

 many good seeds will be carried off with them. After two or 

 three fannings most of the remaining dirt is composed of cone 

 scales and needles. This is easily removed by repeated screen- 

 ings. A very small mesh may be used with Lodgepole Pine 

 as the seeds are small. After a few screenings the seeds are 

 ready for use or for storage. 



In no case has it been found practical to store seed for 

 more than three years as the vitality is impaired after that 

 time. For short periods the seed may be kept in sacks and 

 hung in a cool, dry place where they are safe from rats, 

 mice and other pests. However, if seeds are to be stored for 



