148 GARDENING DIFFICULTIES SOLVED 



Sowing Seeds of and Pruning Forest Trees 



Q. Please give me information about the sowing of seeds of 

 Larch, Oak, Ash, Beech, the time to collect the seeds, and the time 

 to prune Ash, Oak, and Beech. IF. J. B., Norfolk. 



A. Larch, Oak, and Beech seeds may be collected in early 

 October. Ash should be collected in August. Oak and Beec^ ought 

 to be sown in October in nursery beds 4 feet wide. If you are 

 troubled by mice, roll the seeds in red lead before sowing. Larch 

 seeds may be either sown in October or kept until spring. If kept 

 until the latter time store in a cool room. As Oaks lose their 

 vitality very quickly if allowed to become dry, store them in damp 

 sand if you are unable to sow when gathered. Ash seeds may be 

 sown as soon as collected. Oak, Beech, and Ash trees may be 

 pruned any time between the beginning of June and end of Decem- 

 ber, but not during the spring and late winter months. If the trees 

 are planted under proper forest conditions they ought to require no 

 other pruning than the snipping off of a rival leader, for, by close 

 planting, the trunks clean themselves. If you are going to prune 

 large trees, be careful to make the cuts well up to the trunk and 

 tar the wounds over as soon as made. 



Raising a Stock of Evergreens 



Q. I should be glad if you wou Id tell me how I can raise a stock 

 of evergreen plants for shrubbery planting. E. T. H., Willesden. 



A. October is probably the best month of the year for the 

 propagation of hardy evergreen shrubs by means of cuttings. Pro- 

 tection is unnecessary, yet a frame is very useful when choice 

 varieties have to be dealt with, as they root more readily with 

 this assistance. Choose pieces from 6 inches to 1 foot in length 

 and remove the lower leaves. A north border that is slightly 

 protected is the best position for them, and they should be inserted 

 to about two thirds their length, placing a little sand in the bottom 

 of the trench to assist root formation. Make quite firm, and if 

 after severe frost any are lifted they should be trodden down 

 immediately ; the lifting power that frost possesses is remarkable. 

 Rough winds will also cause damage if the cuttings are not kept 

 firm. Where a frame is used this precaution is to a certain extent 

 unnecessary, but it is well to look over them after a spell of hard 

 frost. Among the shrubs which may be propagated thus are 

 common Laurel, Aucuba, Privet, Box, Choisya ternata (in the 

 south), Euonymus, etc. 



