F. W. SCHUMACHER _. . 5 , . Jamaica Plain, Mass. 
NOTES OF INTEREST 
STRATIFICATION—A controversal issue among gardeners, stratification, if carried 
out properly is surely the very best way of securing optimum germination of all 
seeds which require after-ripening conditions preparatory to final germination. 
While the theory and necessary procedures are usually well understood practical 
application of the principals often run into difficulties. The requirements necessary 
for proper stratification are: No. 1—Availability of seed at proper starting time, 
which controls No. 2.—Proper timing for planting schedule. No. 3.—Proper temper- 
ature. No. 4.—Proper moisture and air conditions, which are inter-related and usually 
tied to No. 4.—Proper stratification media and type of container.** Complications 
may arise: Too warm or too cold, too moist or too dry, improper timing, seeds 
starting to germinate before planting time or during a spell of weather unsuitable 
for planting. Failures often result from over-watering, with seeds deteriorating in 
the wet medium. The greatest problem frequently is that seeds are not available early 
enough for completion of the period required in time for seasonal planting. Many 
seed items originating from abroad cannot be available early enough for successful 
stratification. This especially concerns items originating from the Far East. 
Because of the difficulties involved many propagators do not stratify but plant 
seeds at first opportunity in properly prepared beds, under shade, care for beds 
during the season and wait until natural germination takes place the first or second 
spring after planting. With proper knowledge of requirements for respective seeds 
timing can be done so as to have seeds up the first spring after planting. It is 
often advisable to stratify seeds part of the time required and let them complete the 
remaining period of after-ripening after planting in the beds. 
Under all circumstances planting methods should conform, as closely as possible, 
to conditions under which natural regeneration takes place. —The common practice 
of planting tree and shrub seeds, like vegetable or flower seeds, on the prepared mine- 
ral soil surface invites disaster for most all seeds which have to spend an entire season, 
or longer, in the beds. Heavy rains and conditions of alternately freezing and thaw- 
ing during the cold months render a mineral bed surface a quagmire in which seeds 
are apt to drown since air is as much essential to the after-ripening process as is 
moisture. 
In nature many seeds germinate in leaf litter or on the very surface of the 
ground. Best germination seems to take place where conditions of maximum moisture 
and aeration are found side by side. A wet sponge may be mentioned as an example. 
It is amazing to notice, for instance, how early and vigorously apple seeds germinate 
in the moisture saturation of refuse piles of pulp discarded from cider mills, or seed- 
lings come up from boxes of hawthorn berries left out over winter to rot. Similar 
conditions should be created by preparing beds with a layer of spongy humus matter 
two to three inches thick, over the mineral surface of the bed. Peat, peatmoss and 
leafmold with or without admixture of sand may be used for the purpose. 
**Wooden flats are recommended in preference to metal or glass containers. 
RODENT CONTROL—Mice, rats, chipmunks, ground squirrels are fond of many 
seeds, especially of Prunus items, Pines and Taxus. Whole plantings are often 
destroyed. Rodent proofing of individual beds or planting areas is required by the 
Ba Gets who expects maximum results from his investment of seeds, time and 
roubles. 
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