may be established by seeding or transplanting single stems (Woodhouse, 1979). 

 Sprigs may be hand-planted by inserting them 10 to 15 centimeters deep in 

 holes opened by dibbles, spades, and shovels (Fig. 18) or planted in furrows 

 by machine (Fig. 19), taking care to firm the soil around them immediately to 

 prevent "float out." Planting is generally feasible only during low water 

 when the substrate surface is exposed. 



(2) Pot-Grown Nursery Seedlings . Nursery seedlings are plants grown 

 from seed in peat moss or plastic pots under controlled conditions (Fig. 21). 

 Three- to four-month-old seedlings are an alternative to sprigs. Five- to 

 seven-month-old seedlings may be preferable to sprigs, particularly if trans- 

 planted late in the growing season. Pot-grown seedlings are relatively easy 

 to produce but considerably more expensive than sprigs. 



Figure 21. Pot-grown nursery seedlings (Environmental 

 Concern Inc., St. Michael's, Maryland). 



To prepare seedlings, seeds must be harvested (the cutting and collecting 

 of seed heads) from existing stands of smooth cordgrass by wading or from 

 boats (Fig. 22). This must be done shortly after maturity when seeds can be 

 readily dislodged from the heads by rubbing as they shatter readily soon 

 after. Heads should be stored moist, but not submerged, at 2" to 3° Celsius 

 for 2 or 3 weeks to allow "af terripening." They may then be threshed to 

 reduce storage space and facilitate handling , and stored in water of 20- to 

 25-parts-per-thousand salinity (Woodhouse, Seneca, and Broome, 1974) at 2° to 

 3° Celsius until planting time. Submerged storage is required because drying 

 seeds rapidly lose viability (Mooring, Cooper, and Seneca, 1971), and saline 

 water is preferable to retard germination during storage (Woodhouse, Seneca, 

 and Broome, 1974). Low temperatures during storage are essential to retard 

 germination as sprouting of ripe seeds is rapid under higher temperatures fol- 

 lowing af terripening. Even under the best storage conditions, large numbers 



51 



