THE NURSERY-LIST 235 



selves are imported from France in great numbers. It has been 

 supposed that French crab stocks are hardier and more vigorous 

 than ours, but this opinion is much less prevalent than formerly. 

 Of late years they have not been available in large quantity, which 

 has led to the more general use of native stocks. As a rule, nursery- 

 men who grow trees do not raise apple stocks. Stock growing is 

 largely a separate business requiring special experience, and in this 

 country it is an important industry, mostly in Kansas at present 

 on the fertile bottom lands. 



The chief present source of apple seeds is the pomace from 

 cider mills. The " cheese " of pomace is broken up, and if the 

 material is dry enough it may be run through a large sieve to re- 

 move the coarser parts. The seeds are then removed by washing. 

 Various devices are in use for washing them out. They all pro- 

 ceed on the fact that the pomace will rise in water and the seeds 

 sink. Some use a tub or common tank, which is tilted a little to 

 allow the water to flow over the side. Others employ boxes some 

 7 or 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and a foot deep, the lower end of which is 

 only 11 inches deep to allow the escape of the water. This box is 

 set on benches, and a good stream of water is carried into it at the 

 upper end. A bushel or two of pomace is emptied in at a time, and 

 it is broken and stirred with a fork or shovel. When the seeds 

 are liberated, they fall to the bottom and the refuse runs over the 

 lower end. Another box is provided with several cleats, at inter- 

 vals of about a foot, and the ends are left open. The box is set at 

 an angle, and the seeds are caught behind the cleats. Seeds must 

 not stand long in the pomace pile, or they will be seriously injured. 

 Nurserymen like to secure the pomace as soon as it is taken from 

 the press. 



As soon as the seeds are collected, they should be spread on 

 tables or boards, and should be turned frequently until perfectly 

 dry. They may then be stored in boxes in slightly damp sand or 

 sawdust, or in powdered charcoal, and kept in a cool and dry place 

 until spring. Or if they are to be sown immediately, they need not 

 be dried, but simply mixed with enough dry sand to absorb the 

 water so as to make them easy to handle. Seeds should not be 

 allowed to become hard and dry through long exposure, or they will 

 germinate unevenly. Apple seeds procured at the seed stores 

 may be worthless because of this neglect. Very dry seeds can 

 sometimes be grown, however, by subjecting them to repeated 

 soakings and then sprouting in a gentle hotbed or mild forcing- 



