Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1876 — Preserving Hardy Tree Seeds. [ARTICLE]

Preserving Hardy Tree Seeds.

It is often said that if a man. follows nature in the sowing of seeds he cannot go very far astray. The remark sounds S’ msible enough, but embodies a fallacy. us, an apple as it falls upon the ground may be taken as an example of nature’s method of planting. The seeds are enclosed in a pulpy mass which, as it decays, ferments and generates an acid that in nine cases out of ten destroys the germ of the seeds within. Bpt should some large aninial step upon the apple.soba after it is ripe, thereby releasing the seeds from their natural covering and scattering them about, the chances of their growing and becoming trees are greatly increased. Again, if the animal should happen to be an ox or cow, and eat the apple, the seeds may pass through their digestive organs, and then be cast upon the earth, without injury to the vitality of the seed. These roundabout ways are just as natural as any other which reaches the same end by a short cut- It is quite natural for various tree seeds, when mature, to drop upon the ground, where they are devoured by various kinds of animals, or in larire part destroyed by heat and cold, drotight, or too much moisture. A few escape destruction, take root and grow, the number being again lessened during the first few years of the plant’s existence. This is nature’s method of restricting overproduction and crowding, and not as generally expressed, “nature’s way of preservation and Multiplication.” Now, the art of horticulture consists mainly in improving upon nature’s method, both in the preservation and propagationof plants, as well as the multiplication of varieties. If we cannot do this, qur labors as intelligent beings avail us little. These remarks are intended to counteract, if possible, the mischievous teachings of men who are constantly telling us that we must follow nature closely in all her ways, as well in rearing plants as animals. Of course, die fundamental principles must be obeyed, but her plasticity enables us to mould nature’s works into many forms which suit our purpose far better than the originals. With this view we plow, sow, reap and thresh, also grind our grain, plant and prune fruit trees, thereby supplying wants or desires better than by leaving all Ihings tdnature. The season is now at hand for procuring many useful kinds of forest tree seeds, and it is clear that tb be al all successful we must interfere somewhat with nature both in preserving and planting. For instance, one of our readers writes that he has had slight success in.' planting nuts and other forest seeds in the fall, although it was doubtless the season in which “nature” performed the operation; mice and other vermin destroyed the seed almost as fast as he could plant or sow. This is but one of the many decisions in which we are obliged to deviate from nature to avoid destruction from natural enemies. As the seeds of our various forest trees fall upon the ground, they come in contact with moisture, and the leaves and loose vegetable matter surrounding or covering them offer a slight protection

from cold during the winter; but the principal condition which prevents destruction as their vitality is moisture, for dryness during any considerable period is fatal to most kinds of seeds. To avoid losses from vermin, as well as to protect hardy tree seeds from being injured in other ways, the better way is to preserve them in boxes filled with sand during winter, and to sow in spring. It is not necessary to put the boxes in cellars or under cover; bury them in the open ground, where it will make little or no difference whether the seeds freeze or not, as it is the constant mqist condition during the winter months which preserves their vitality, and epables the sprouts to burst asunder the shell or other envelope on the return of warm weather In spring. All the varieties of nuts, also the seeds of the ash, maple, tulip-tree, locust, osage orange, and three-thorned accacia, may be treated in the same manner. Gather the seeds as soon as ripe, and then procure boxes of the required size; in the bottom, spread a layer of sand an inch deep, over this put a layer of seeds of the same thickness, or less if small like the maple or locust. Then add another layer of sand, following in this order until the box is full. Dig a pit in some dry place In the garden, ana just deep enough to leave the top of the box about level with the surface of the surrounding soil when put in place. Lay some boards over the top of the box if there is danger of vermin getting at the seed; if not, ordinary soil may be put directly upon the sand to the depth of six or eight inches, or enough -to make a slight mound over the top to carry off the water during heavy rains. The sand used should, of course, be moist, but not saturated with water, and it should be kept in this condition during winter. For this reason we recommend placing the boxes in a dry position, where the water wilj not settle about them in winter. If no such position is handy, then set them on the top of the ground, and bank up and over with earth, or cover with a roof of boards. Good sharp sand is a far better material in which to pack seed than common soil, as it admits of good drainage, thereby preventing moldiness and rotting in case 100 much water should happen to get into the boxes. The seed can also be readily separated from it in spring withe sieve if necessary. Chestnuts and 'acorns are, probably, as difficult to keep over winter as any of our larger kinds of tree seeds, for they will sprout in the fall if the weather should prove warm, and they soon decay if placed in a warm and moist position, and shrivel up if Kept dry; but we have succeeded perfectly by storing them in sand and then placing the boxes on the north side of some building orother shady spot, where they will be kept cool until actually frozen up in winter. It is well to spread out acorns and chestnuts for a fewdays after gathering, and let the natural moisture dry out a little before packing away for the winter. 0 In the spring seeds kept as we have directed should be sown as soon as the ground is in a suitable condition to work easily, and before the seeds begin to sprout. The larger kinds may be picked out by hand, or the sand sifted out; but with the smaller kinds, sow sand and seeds in the drills together. If any of our readers have ever experienced any difficulty in making hardy tree seeds grow, we would advise them to try again, adopting the above-described method of preserving over winter. — Ji. Y. Sun.