Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-18

the Forestry Commissioners, and accompa-
nying the above, as part of Bulletin No. 1,
ere the following suggestions and direc-
lions by him concerning the propagation
and care of seeding trees
When forest tree seedlings packed
closely, as they usually must be, are re-
ceived from distance, they should be
taken out of the boxes without loss of
time. Unpack the boxes in the shade ;
prepare a puddle of rich soil, mixed with
water, to about the consistency of paint
dip each bundle of trees so that all the
roots will be coated with the puddle. If
evergreen trees the puddle must not be
allowed to come in contact with the foli-
age.
If planting can be commenced within a
day or two, the bundle of trees may be
placed standing with the roots on moist
ground in the shed or cellar and packing
material placed around them. If not
ready TO plant in day or two the trees
should be laid in a trench, standing, and
in thin layers, with earth pressed firmly
over the roots of each layer, in Il cool,
shady place, with a few branches of trees
or straw over the tops This is called by
our nurserymen heeling in. Trees in boxes
as transplanted from seedlings, of course,
do not need this treatment.
Land to be planted with forest trees
should be prepared as well as for farm
crop. The roots of the trees should be
kept moist and not exposed to the air
while being planted Plant them little
deeper than they stood in the nursery,
and press the earth firmly with the foot
over the roots of each tree when planted.
Keep the soil loose and free of weeds until
the trees shade the ground and prevent
the weeds growing.
Ash.-The white, blue and all other
kinds of ash seed, except the green,
should be mixed with moist sand as soon
as gathered and placed in cool place
until time to sow in the spring. A slight
frost will not hurt them if not allowed to
" freeze dry" The green ash seed can be
kept dry, but it is good plan to soak it in
water few days before sowing. Cover all
from one-quarter to one-half inch.
Allanthus.-Can be kept dry and sown
late in the spring when the ground gets
warmer. Cover about one-fourth inch.
Acacia and Pseudacacia.-Can be kept
dry, but should be soaked in warm water
before sowing, as the shell is very hard,
and some of 1t will not come the first year
if not well soaked.
Negundo (box elder).-Is much better
kept the same as white ash, but can be
kept dry; in which case soak it thoroughly
before sowing.
Catalpa.-Catalpa seed is kept dry and
should not be sown until the ground gets
thoroughly warm, as it is apt to rot in
cold, wet soil; cover about half an inch.
Elm.-Elm seeds ripen in the spring,
and should be kept dry. They are very
easy to start if not covered too deeply
Maple.-Hard or sugar maple ripens its
seeds in the fall, and should be mixed
with moist earth. But small per cent.
will grow if kept dry. At the best, there
is not over fifty per cent. of it perfect
seeds. Cover not to exceed one-half inch.
Soft maple (white) and red maple ripen
their seeds in the spring, and should be
sown Mt once. Do not leave them or elm
seeds in boxes or baskets as long as they
are liable to heat and spoil have known
them to spoil from lying in box two DAYS.
Cover the same as hard maple.
Nuts.-All nuts with pulpy covering
should be put in a rot heap, i. e., layer Of
nuts two or three inches deep, then layer
of earth the same thickness, then nuts,
and so on. The whole wet down freezing
will not be injurious. In the case Of
acorns, chestnuts, etc, they should be
mixed with sand and kept in cool place.
Pines.-Can be sown dry and will need
a protection such as lath frames or brush.
They can be sown broadcast and raked in
very lightly.
Spruce, Firs, Cypress, etc.-Need the
same treatment as pines. jumpers are
very slow to terminate, sometimes requir-
ing two or more years to generate. They
should be put in a rot heap. All of the