The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-15

A bulletin of the Oklahoma Expert
ment Station gives the following in
formation on the above subject
How to collect and plant tree seed
is a question that is interesting a great
many farmers in Oklahoma. The plant
ing of trees for shade, wind breaks,
fire wood, posts and fencing material
is becoming quite common in the
praire district. The trees desired for
such planting can hardly be purchased
of nurseries. but can be raised on the
farm at a reasonable cost. Most of the
trees used for this kind of planting
bear seed while quite young. and the
small paintings that were made early
in the old part of Oklahoma are now
bearing seed enough to supply the
farms with plenty of young trees. The
black locust and catalpa bear young
and the seed is easily gathered. The
elms do not bear so young as the two
trees just named, but by selecting the
seed from the native white elm that
grows along the banks of the small
streams most farmers can secure
plenty of seed at small cost. The box
elder, ash and blackberry are all ma
tive trees, and the seed can be Sc
cured with little trouble.
Tree seeds should be gathered as
soon as ripe. The squirrels, mice and
worms soon destroy a large part of
the seed If it falls to the ground; and
some kinds of seeds will not grow
| we'll If thoroughly dried. Most of the
seeds are easier to gather from the
trees than from the ground several
weeks after they have fallen. The
seeds that mature before midsummer
should be gathered and planted as
soon as ripe, as few of them will grow
If kept till the next spring before
planting. The late-maturing seeds may
be stored over winter and planted in
the spring. The seeds with soft shells
or coverings should be stored In a
cool, dry place. The nuts and seeds
with hard. dry coverings should be
planted in the fall or stored in boxes,
sand or moist soil out of doors. Freez-
ing and thawing these seeds during
winter helps to break the shell.
Hard shelled seed may be planted in
the fall or early winter If the land is
well drained. but If planted on wet
land they are liable to rot. Moles and
field mice will sometimes dig cut some
of the seed, but If the land is free
of grass and litter little harm will be
done. This will save the trouble of
storing and the planting can be done
when there Is less press of labor by
the regular farm work. The seeds
should be covered with about two or
three inches of soil. If the seeds are
stored dry over winter they should be
soaked in water for two or three days
before planting. Pouring hot water
over the seeds will help to soften the
shells. The light, soft-shelled seed like
the catalpa should be planted in early
spring and should not be planted any
deeper than is necessary to place them
in moist soil.
The soil should be we'll prepared and
should contain a good supply of de-
caying vegetable matter, which may
be supplied in the form of well-rotted
manure. The seed of slow growing
trees like pines and cedars should be
planted in a seed bed, where they can
be shaded during the first one or two
summers. The seeds that are planted
in midsummer may also be planted
in a bed, and then the little trees can
be set in the nursery row the following
winter. The seeds that are planted in
the beds should be planted In rows
about is inches apart and thick enough
to have the plants about inches apart
in the row. These seedlings require
very close attention and good care to
bring them through the first summer.
The seeds of the more rapidly grow
ing trees may be planted in nursery
rows. and the young plants cultivated
there until large enough to set in the
permanent planting. The seeds should
| be drilled In the rows, so the plants
Will stand from four to eight inches
apart in the row and the rows abou,
three feet apart. The trees in the nur-
sery row must be well cultivated and
cared for.