F. W. SCHUMACHER - ; ; 7 ~ 5 ; : Sandwich, Mass. 
NOTES OF INTEREST 
DORMANCY IN SEEDS OF PINE, SPRUCE, OTHER CONIFERS — Failure 
to germinate promptly certain conifer seeds is often due to the fact that no 
consideration had been given to dormancy factors. Seeds most usually con- 
cerned are: — White Spruce, White Pine, other Pines of the Cembra, Flex- 
ilis and Strobus groups. 
In Fir (Abies), Hemlock (Tsuga), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga), Larch 
(Larix), Sitka Spruce dormancy ocurence is variable with dormancy found 
in some lots and none in others. 
In Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) fifty percent of seed are dormant, the 
other half fast germinating. 
Late spring planting of all of the before mentioned is apt to result in 
total failure or partial germination only. Fall planting of some, early spring 
planting for others or pre-treatment (stratification) of seed lots will be 
required for best results. Growers are requested: — 
A. To consult reference books for these problems. 
B. For earliest spring planting to prepare their beds in the fall, not to 
touch bed surface at sowing time but to dress with dry peatmoss, sow 
and cover with peatmoss and shades. Boarding-in of beds will facili- 
tate this procedure. 
SEED CERTIFICATION — 
Inquiries received show that the subject of certification is improperly 
understoodd by many. ; 
With the importance of seed certification rightly stressed by pertinent 
authorities we wish to explain our opinion. 
Our endeavor for many years, has been to secure supplies from sources 
of long standing, experienced in their respective fields. We request with our 
bulk purchases for forest seeds, certificates as to origins. These we find to 
be of various nature: some to be personal statements, some by chambers 
of commerce, some by forestry agencies. There do not exist international 
regulations covering the subject of certification but moves in the direction of 
international control are on the way. 
Forest seeds are a commodity quite different from field seeds as grown 
on broad acreages and readily controlled. Collection of forest seeds, in many 
instances, is done by small private enterprises and quite necessarily so with 
the remoteness of some of the choicest collection areas. There are often con- 
cerned single seed sources with no alternates. 
Effective control of seed collection by national boards, under international 
regulations may not be possible without a cumbersome setup, which surely 
would result in higher prices and delayed deliveries from source to consumer, 
especially from abroad.** Restrictive regulations may rather stiffle than 
further the expensive and strenuous job of cone collection with which the 
initial source has to cope. 
Certified seed do not necessarily have to be expensive. Seed prices are 
governed primarily by the availability of cone pickers and, the extent and 
conditions of crops. The certificate involved is a small expense item in itself. 
Validity of seed certification, today, depends prevailingly on the good will 
of collecting and distributing parties. 
**Note — A delay of approximately four weeks already is caused by imple- 
mentation of present U.S. entry regulations. 
HOW TO GERMINATE CAMELLIA SEEDS — 
With the mounting interest for Camellia growing in the North (Camellias 
will winter in Southern New England), the growing of plants from seed for 
selection of better types with blooming habits to suit northern climes becomes 
a necessity. 
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