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vulnerable seeds therein contained. Take, for example, the case of the Honeysuckle 
(Banksia), Hakea, Native Pear (Xylomelum), and note the enormously thick and 
strong casing which protects the seed- and, hence the young plant, for the seed contains 
the embryo. The dehiscence of the fruit is aided by drying winds, by the heat of the 
sun, and (though there is vast waste in the operation) by bush fires. 
Then the seeds themselves have often a tough, leathery casing, as in Wattles. 
The embryo can be released in two ways by a sufficiency of moisture, and by heat 
a bush fire; but although a fire may burn through the seed-coat and release the 
embryo, the result is usually attended with an enormous waste of plant life. 
When viewing the growth of large numbers of young seedlings not long after 
a bush fire, we contemplate the bare, blackened areas, and the beauty of beautiful tiny 
plants. There are to some extent fortuitous circumstances tall, dominant, perhaps 
useless plants are burnt away, and a new giowth " starts from scratch " as the 
phrase goes but we sometimes forget the enormous destruction of plant life, including 
seeds, which has caused the present conditions, and tte new competition which is now 
under weigh. 
Solving the Seed. Seed can be broad-casted, or it can be planted in prepared 
ground in the forest. But it is usually most economical to propagate forest trees 
in nurseries, and thence to plant out the seedlings at the proper time. In some moist 
localities, where it is desired to establish a tree growth on grass land, it has been 
recommended to sow on the thick inverted sod. The top of the sod is usually free 
from seeds of any kind which would compete with the tree seedling. 
To obtain maximum results, it is a safe guide to sow to the depth of the seed's 
own diameter. 
Sound seeds, given the necessary heat and moisture, are easy to germinate ; the 
critical time is just after germination has taken place. When the radicles have only 
the seed leaves or cotyledons to support, they have already developed fine root hairs, 
which are easily destroyed by any sudden change of either heat or moisture. There 
should be just sufficient shade protection to ensure evenness of moisture. The seed 
beds, boxes, pans, or whatever apparatus is used for raising seedlings, should be 
thoroughly soaked before sowing, and after sowing at that time of the day when the 
sun is on the wane, with just sufficient heat to warm the surface of the ground without 
causing too much radiation. 
A fatal mistake is often made by sowing too thickly ; the seedlings come up 
like mustaid and cress to use a gardener's phrase debilitating themselves for want 
of footo. 
The treatment of some tree-seeds can only be learnt by experience. Palm seeds 
may be six months germinating, and other seeds are so dilatory that they are often 
thrown out as worthless when such is not the case. The following method of treating 
Indian Teak seed applies also to those of our White Beech (Gmelina Leichhardtii) and 
of some other difficultly germinable seeds : ' Teak seed, if collected and sown 
