20 BIGGIvK ORCHARD BOOK 



1 ' The seeds are sown in beds, usually four feet in 

 width, the seeds well covered, as any other seeds 

 would be. A covering of forest leaves, straw or like 

 material is placed over the beds, kept in place by 

 adding branches of trees, sticks or prepared slats. 

 This covering is taken off gradually in spring, as the 

 seeds germinate. 



" Should it be inconvenient to sow in autumn, the 

 same result may be expected from spring sowing, but 

 the seeds must be properly preserved. There must be 

 no loss of weight through the winter ; the seeds must 

 be as fresh in spring as when gathered. To accom- 

 plish this, either keep them in a damp cellar or mix 

 them with slightly damp soil and keep in a cool cellar 

 or room. What is required is that the seeds absorb a 

 little moisture instead of losing any, and this the 

 slightly damp soil permits of. When so preserved, 

 sow them the very first thing in spring, just as soon 

 as the frost leaves the ground. There need be no 

 covering of leaves or straw to spring-sown beds. 



" Nurserymen prefer autumn planting, except for 

 hickory-nuts, walnuts and a few such seeds which 

 mice are apt to get away > with, and these they sow in 

 spring. 



" For autumn sowing, any time before the ground 

 freezes will do, but be sure the seeds are not drying 

 in the meantime. Seasons following sowings have 

 much to do with the vegetation of tree seeds, and 

 even experts sometimes fail to secure a crop." 



IMPORTANCE OF GRAFTING, Were all forms of 

 the art of grafting and budding to be taken from the 

 horticulturist today, commercial fruit growing in its 



