-l1 
ELEMENTARY FORESTRY. 
vitality very quickly when stored. (3) Some seeds, such as 
those of the Plum, Cherry and Black Walnut, require severe 
freezing when moist in order to germinate. (4) Seeds that are 
covered with water will not generally grow. ‘This is true at least 
of our northern tree seeds. (5) The seeds of some trees germi- 
nate at a temperature near freezing, while others require a much 
higher temperature. (6) After seeds of some plants have 
become very dry, scalding may aid them in germinating, while 
with others scalding is injurious. It is sometimes desirable to 
soak seeds for one or two days in tepid water, and then mix with 
sand and freeze before sowing. Lindley records that seeds found 
in raspberry jam grew alter passing through the heat necessary 
to boil syrup (240 degrees Fahr.) and that seeds of Acacia and 
Lophantha grew after being boiled five minutes, but our com- 
mon tree seeds will not stand such treatment. 
Stratification, as the term is used inthis connection, refers 
to the storing of seeds mixed with layers of earth, leaves or other 
material. It is customary to apply the term solely to seeds that 
are mixed in this way and kept frozen over winter. It is the 
common practice with the seeds of such trees as the Black Wal- 
nut, Hickory, Basswood, Plum, Cherry and Mountain Ash. 
Where only small quantities are to be cared for they are gener- 
ally mixed in boxes and the boxes buried in well drained soil out 
of doors, but where large quantities are to be handled they may 
be mixed with soil on the surface of the ground and left until 
spring; stch a pile is termed a pit. One of the best materials 
with which to cover seed pits is inverted grass sod. It is a good 
plan to have the material that is mixed with the sced so fine 
that it will easily go through a screen and leave the seeds sep- 
arated for sowing. 
Wintering Acorns and Other Nuts in Large Quanti- 
ties. On account of the great liability to injury where a large 
amount of nuts are stored in heaps, and on account of the imprac- 
ticability many times of stratifying them with sand, the following 
plan is resorted to in some sections: 
A house is made, preferably with a sandy floor, so as to secure 
good drainage, and is covered with sod roof and sides, so as to 
keep out most of the frost. This may be of any size, but perhaps 
20 feet in width and any length would be very convenient. The 
