PROPAGATION BY MEANS OF SEEDS AND SPORES 37 



the agency of frost, if properly handled. The seeds of some 

 of the pines are liberated by heating the cones. 



Fall sowing amounts to stratification, but unless the soil is 

 mellow and very thoroughly drained the practice is not ad- 

 visable. The seeds are liable to be heaved or washed out, 

 or eaten by vermin, and the earth is likely to bake over them. 

 Under proper conditions, however, the seeds of fruits and 

 many forest trees thrive well with fall sowing. The seeds 

 should be sown as soon as they are ripe, even if in midsummer ; 

 or if the ground is not ready for them at that time, they may 

 be temporarily stratified to prevent too great hardening of 

 the parts. It is best to allow all green or moist seeds to dry 

 off a few days before they are stratified. Fall-sown seeds 

 should always be mulched. 



Nurserymen practice stratification of large seeds, as peach 

 and plum, by burying them in autumn in trenches or shallow 

 pits. Care is taken to choose a well-drained soil, and a place 

 that can be opened early in spring. 



Some seeds rarely germinate until the second year after 

 maturity, even with the best of treatment. The thorns, 

 mountain ash, hollies, viburnums, some roses, and many others 

 belong in this category. Some growers sow them regularly as 

 soon as they are ripe, and allow the beds to remain until the 

 seeds appear. This is a waste of land and of labor in weeding, 

 and the best way is to stratify them and allow them to remain 

 until the first or second spring before sowing. 



Other preparatory treatment 



Partial substitutes for stratification are soaking and scald- 

 ing the seeds. Soaking may be advantageously practiced 

 in the case of slow and hard seeds that are not inclosed in bony 

 shells, and which have been allowed to become dry. Seeds 

 of apple, locust, and others of similar character, are sometimes 



