78 ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 



seedlings are large enough for permanent setting in forest planta- 

 tions or windbreaks. They may be allowed to grow in the seed 

 bed another year without injury, but should be transplanted 

 before the growth of the third season begins. 



Seeds of Deciduous Trees that Ripen in Autumn may be 

 sown to advantage in the autumn; provided, (i) the soil is not 

 of such a nature as to become too solidly packed over them 

 before spring; (2) they are not liable to dry up or wash out; 

 or (3) they are not subject to injuries from rodents, insects or 

 other animals. In many locations some or all of these possible 

 injuries may make spring sowing most desirable with most kinds 

 of seeds. Our most successful nurserymen, however, prefer to 

 sow in autumn, and try to bring about the conditions that make 

 it successful. 



In the Matter of Storing Seeds it is difficult to lay down 

 any exact rule to follow, and here, as in all other similar matters, 

 considerable must be left to good judgment. As a rule, how- 

 ever, it is perfectly safe to winter over all of the seeds of hardy 

 plants which ripen in autumn, by burying them in sand out of 

 doors. 



Tree Seeds that Ripen in Autumn may be divided into 

 four classes, which require different methods of treatment to 

 grow them, viz., dry seeds, seeds with fleshy coverings, nut seeds 

 and leguminous tree seeds. 



Dry Seeds, like those of the Ash, Birch, Hard Maple and 

 Boxelder, are very certain to grow when sown in the spring in 

 drills as soon as the soil can be easily worked, in the same way 

 as recommended for Soft Maple and Elm. If not sown until 

 spring they will have to be kept over winter, and when only a 

 small quantity is to be kept over this is best done by spreading 

 the seeds on the surface of the hard ground, covering with an 

 inverted box and digging a ditch around it to carry off the water, 

 or the seeds may be mixed with sand and kept in a dry, cool 

 place. Large quantities may be kept on dry ground under a 

 shed. These seeds will stand considerable drying, but if allowed 

 to become very dry, hot, or moist, their vitality may be injured 

 or destroyed. 



Seeds with Fleshy Coverings, as those of the Cherry and 

 Plum, should be kept from getting dry before planting. The best 

 way to handle them is to separate them from the pulp, mix with 



