The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-06-27

- ROWING evergreen seedlings is
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 dine
of nursery work; but in the United
States little attention has been given
to it, outside a 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,
or even into December, as in the case
Of the lodge pole or the knob cone
pine.
The pine cone may be taken as a
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 fTuiting scale. The fruit
fng scales are found about the central
portion of the cone, those near the
butts and tips of the cones being
abortiye. With the exception of
few Of the pines, which bear large
cones with very heavy thick scales,
the cone scales upon ripening expand
ing cones, Il is therefore necessary
to go into the timber before they are
entirely mature and gather them
while in half ripened condition. To
hasten ripenins 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 1iberate the
seed. The cones and seeds are then
separated by screening and the seeds
freed from their wings by mechanical
processes of various sorts.
The seeds of practically all of the
eoniferous species may be held for
several years without serious loss Of
vitality, if stored in cool, dry place.
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 a 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 seedbed. The soil in
the seeded should be spaded and
thoroughly pulverized to a depth of
ten or twelve inches. There should
not be a 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 a 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 a
screen Of lattice work of lath, Of will
low mats, as customary in European
nurseries, or of merely a light cover
ing of brush. These screens are sup
ported by either high or low frames.
The low frames support the screen if
teen or eighteen inches above the
surface OF the beds. Usually they are