SAVING THE SEEDS OF TREES. 



79 



on being beat out, to be in the least degree dis- 

 coloured, then the heat has been too great, and 

 must be diminished before any more cones be put 

 on. If, on the other hand, none of the seed come 

 out after the cones, while hot, are subjected to smart 

 percussion with a flail, it is plain that the heat has 

 either been too mild, or that it has not been applied 

 for a sufficient length of time ; and the error must 

 be corrected, according to the nature of the case. 



The cones are generally laid upon the kiln to the 

 depth of five or six inches ; and a smart heat being- 

 kept up, they are allowed to remain for two or three 

 hours ; but they must be repeatedly turned during 

 that time, in order that they may all receive equal 

 justice. When taken off, they are laid on a smooth 

 barn floor, and beat violently with flails till they be 

 perfectly cold. They are then put upon the kiln a 

 second time, care being taken, in the first place, to 

 separate from them what seed may have come out, 

 by sifting them in a riddle or wide sieve. After 

 being again heated for a considerable time, they un- 

 dergo another severe beating, which, if it pounds 

 and breaks them completely, finishes the most iabo» 

 rious part of the operation ; but, if a considerable 

 number of them still remain whole, they must again 

 be sifted, and put upon the kiln, and subjected a 



