GERMINATION 



31 



before sowing, the percentage of loss will be high. Hence 

 the seed bed should be prepared the previous fall so as 

 to lose no time in spring. Peach and plum seeds do not 

 suffer as much as do apple and pear seeds. Should it 

 e\er be necessary to sow the seeds, especially of small 

 kinds, such as apple, strawberry, raspberry, while the soil 

 is wet and cold, it is a good plan to open furrows and 

 cover the seeds with well-decayed, fibrous compost, saw- 

 dust or similar material, so as to prevent baking. A 

 good mixture for this purpose is rotted sod, sharp sand 

 and cow manure which has been rotted a year or more 

 and turned over twice or oftener to secure uniformity. 



53. Necessity of freezing. — Whether freezing is neces- 

 sary to cold climate seed germination is not decided. It 

 does not, however, injure the seed germs but often helps 

 in removing natural obstructions such as hard shells. 

 Hence, it is preferred to cracking by hand, necessarily a 

 slow and risky process. 



FIG. 25— VIEW IN FLORIDA NURSERY 

 Shifting palms, a very important process in plant growing. 



