STARTING WITH SEED. 17 



than when it is stored. If, however, it be stored, the 

 danger of drying can be reduced to a minimum, and the 

 trouble in connection with the bed be all avoided. 



If possible, gather the seed while the pulp is still 

 soft, after it is fully ripe and before it becomes dry. 

 Do not, however, throw away any that has become dry 

 in this way, as it may still be of use. Do not remove? 

 the pulp, but store it wi th the seeds intact. 



The best way to store the seed is to stratify it. 

 Make a mixture of leaf mold, sand and loam and pass it 

 through a fine sieve, finer than the size of the seed with 

 the pulp off. If not sifted, great difficulty wi] 1 be expe- 

 rienced in removing the seeds from the mixture when 

 the time conies for planting. A mixture made in this 

 way and sifted will be slower to dry out than most 

 unmixed soils, and will therefore be better as a storage 

 material. Put a layer half an inch deep smoothly upon 

 the bottom of a box and scatter the berries thickly but 

 only one deep upon it. Put in another half inch of 

 earth, then a second layer of berries, and so continue 

 until the box is full. A deep cigar box will hold several 

 ounces of seed and is a handy size to use, although a 

 stronger box will generally be better, particularly where 

 it is to be much exposed to the weather. 



When packed, either store the box in a cellar, as 

 described for ginseng roots, or bury it in some place 

 that will not become wet but will always be moist 

 enough to prevent the possibility of drying out in the 

 summer. Since frost does not injure the seeds, but 

 rather improves their germinating qualities, it will be 

 better to put the box out of doors than in the cellar. 

 During the summer it will always be best to bury the 

 seed, to escape the molds that are commonly present in 

 cellars. Care must also be taken to prevent the attacks 

 of mice upon the seeds. A covering of perforated tin 

 or of wire netting will effect this and will not hinder 

 2 



