The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-06-26
- ROWING evergreen seedlings is o

IL not a difficult matter, except
that like all other lines of
highly developed work it requires
careful attention. 1t is true, however,
that usually the expert nurseryman is
the only one who succeeds in this
work. In the European countries, the
growing of evergreen seedlings is
highly developed as a specialized llne
of nursery work; but in the United
States little attention has been given
to it, outside few wholesale, state
and government nurseries.
To start at the beginning OF the
operation, the cones which bear the
seeds are gathered from the trees
when beginning to ripen, which may
be any time from the middle Of Au.
gust, as in the case OF white pines,
up until the latter part Of November
or even into December, as in the case
of the lodge pole or the knob cone
pine.
The pine cone may be taken as
type of the cones OF all the conifers.
The cone is made up of numerous
scales. The seeds are borne directly
beneath the scale, usually two seeds
under each fruiting scale. The fruit.
ing scales are found about the central
portion OF the cone, those near the
butts and tips Of the cones being
abortive. With the exception Of
90 81 he nfu uyI,fnb hnor Iarnn
cones with very heavy thick scales,
the cone scales upon ripening expand
and release the seeds. When gather
ing cones, 1t is therefore necessary
to go into the timber before they are
entirely mature and gather them
while in half ripened condition. To
hasten ripening and the opening Of
the scales, the cones are spread upon
large canvas sheets and exposed to
the sun. From three to six days sun.
ming is usually all that is necessary
to open the scales and liberate the
seed. The cones and seeds are then
separated by screening and the seeds
freed from their wings by mechanical
processes or various Sorts.
The seeds of practically all of the
coniferous species may be held for
several years without serious loss Of
vitality, if stored in cool, dry place.
The conifers, like the hardwood for.
est trees, bear full crops of seed only
periodically When the seed years
occur, the nurserymen try to secure
seed to supply their needs until an.
other crop is grown.
Success in obtaining full stand Of
seedlings depends very largely on two
factors. The first is the quality of
the seed. Only seed that shows a
high per cent Of vitality in the germi.
nation test should be sown, The Sec
ond is a perfect seeded. The soil in
the seeded should be spaded and
thoroughly pulverized to depth Of
ten or twelve inches. There should
not be lump left in it that will not
pass through a sieve with an inch
mesh The surface soil must be
worked down to a mealy condition.
The soil should be rich sandy loan
that will allow ready drainage. An
accumulation Of surface water on
seedbeds is fatal to the plants.
In preparing the seedbeds, some
provision must be made for shading
them. The coniferous seedlings are
very tender plants and they require
more or less protection throughout
the first summer from the intense
heat of the midday sun, also from
the wind and from dashing rains.
The necessary shade is provided by
screen of lattice work of lath, of will
low mats, as customary in European
nurseries, or of merely light cover
ing Of brush. These screens are sup.
ported by either high or low frames.
The low frames support the screen fiji.
teen or eighteen inches above the
surface of the beds. Usually they are