XURSERY PRACTICE FOR PRAIRIE-PLAINS PLANTING 



13 



Figuke 5. — Collecting eastern redcedar berries by stripping onto tarpaulin, 



Nebraska. 



CARE OF FRESH SEED 



Few seeds are dry enough to be stored, even in piles, immediaetly 

 after collection, except for those species which become dry on the tree. 

 Care of seed immediately after collection and before it can be extracted 

 is. therefore, of the utmost importance. In handling newly collected 

 seed of most species, adequate aeration in a dry atmosphere is essential. 

 A safe procedure, if it is not possible to extract the seed immediately, 

 is to spread the freshly gathered fruit in a thin layer in the open, 

 stirring and shoveling occasionally, for several days following collec- 

 tion. After drying, the fruit can be stored temporal ily while awaiting 

 extraction. 



It has been found that freshly gathered fruits of practically all 

 deciduous species will heat if piled or sacked and left undisturbed for 

 some time, and any appreciable amount of such heating is almost 

 certain to destroy the usefulness of the seed. Elm seed has been 

 observed to heat in an hour. All pulpy-fruited species and practically 

 all dry-fruited species require close observation and care, if at all 

 moist when collected. At the same time, these forms should never be 

 allowed to dry excessively. Pulpy-fruited species heat more readily 

 if crushed in handling. 



Seed Extraction \m> Drying 



The extraction of seed from a wide range of deciduous tree species 

 presents more varied and difficult problems than extraction of conifer 

 seed. In connection with its Prairie States Forestry Project, the 

 Forest Service has tried numerous extraction methods and techniques. 

 Certain procedures and equipment have been developed which give 

 uniform!}' good results, together with economical performance. 



