CHE REFERENCE LIBRARY - Pole Shift Survival Information

220 THE NURSERY-MANUAL
(‘ones should be matured full~v ‘r~efore being gathered. If they
hold t,he seeds tightl>-, they should be placed in a dry place, sometimes
even in an oven, until the scales spread. In some species,
as the balsam fir, the cones drop and fall to pieces as soon as ripe,
and these cones must be gathered just before they begin to fall.
The seeds may be separated by rubbing them in the hands, when
they are thoroughly dry, then winnowing them out through a
sieve. To obtain stocky plants, the seedlings should be transplanted
the following spring.
The named vuricties and the species which do not produce sufficient
sethd are winter-worked on seedling stocks which are potted
in the fall. !‘u ttings of growing t,ips set i? sand in a close wellshaded
house or frame are often successful. Stocks the size of a
1t’iLd pencil iiW COlllI~~o:ll~ UWtl. One-year-old seedlings are usually
prefcrrctl, I )llt in some cases the requisite size is not reached
lmtil t~hc sec’oti(1 or third J-ear. Any of the common operations
of grafting may bc employed, but the veneer-graft is best. The
conifers are not difficult to graft. The European silver fir (A&es
I’icrn or pwt~‘wxtcr) or the balsam fir nl;~y be used as a stock, but
tlv> common Norway spruce is now the most popular stock for
species of both :1bies and Picea (see P~icca).
Readily
propagate(1 by seeds ; also l)y softwood cuttings.
I’ropagatctl by seeds sown in autumn or spring. Sometimes
sown in pots of sanely soil, and kept in il frame till the following
spring, then placcrl in their flowering cluarters. Also increased
by young cuttings , set in spring, in sandy soil. Spring sowing in
the open is a con~mon method in this country. The outer coverings
of the seed should be removed.
Abrus. Impi 1~1 irloscr.
Propagated by seeds, more quickly by soaking ; also by cuttings
under glass in sand.
Abutilon (Flowering Maple). Malvacec~).
Propa.gatet.1 by seeds and cuttings. Sow seeds in pans, with same
soil and temperature as for cuttings ; if planted in March, blooming
plants should be secured by autumn. Cuttings may be taken
from young wood, at almost any season ; the best time is spring