SAVING TTTE SEEDS OE TREES. 83 



summer, Imt its maturity ought not to be taken for 

 granted, till it begin to drop spontaneously off the 

 trees. This rule ought to be strictly observed in 

 gathering birch-seed, as, if it be taken off the trees a 

 fortnight too soon, little of it will grow. It is ge- 

 nerally ready about the beginning of harvest. The 

 seeds of the beech and oak are seldom saved in Scot- 

 land. Every one knows when such seeds as are 

 produced in the form of berries are ripe, by their 

 colour. 



Seeds may be greatly injured, or rendered entirely 

 useless, by being kept in bags, or laid in large heaps, 

 when they are newdy gathered. By this means, 

 they heat or ferment, — a process which induces rot- 

 tenness, and destroys the power of germination. 

 Birch-seed especially may be completely spoiled by 

 being kept two days in bags, when it is newly col- 

 lected. It is necessary, therefore, to spread all seed 

 liable to be injured from this cause, on a loft or dry 

 earthen floor, as soon as gathered, and to turn it 

 once every day, till all its superabundant moisture 

 have evaporated. Seeds ought to be kept free from 

 damp during winter, but they should not be kept 

 where the heat of fire may reach them. To shrivel 

 them is in the highest degree injurious, though this 

 is a fact that is seldom attended to» 



F 2 



