(37) PROPAGATION AND CULTURE OF TREES WITH COTTONY, FEATHERY AND OTHER SOFT SEEDS

The seeds of the genera Populus, Salix, Alnus, Betula, Ulmus, &c., ripen from may to November; and birches in October. The seeds of the alder and birch may be kept in a cool, dry, airy situation till spring, or sown immediately after they are gathered. They come up in the May or June following; but the seeds of the seeds of the elm, poplar and willows should be sown immediately. Many will come up the same autumn, and the remainder the following April and May. The seeds may be dried and preserved in bags for a year; but in this case the greater part will not vegetate. Poplar and willow seeds require to be sown on a surface rendered level and slightly firm by rolling. After the seeds are equally distributed over it, they should be covered with light sandy soil, or vegetable mould, no thicker than barely to conceal the seed. After this the bed should be watered and shaded and kept uniformly moist by occasional watering when the plants make their appearance. Of all seedling trees raised in British nurseries, none grow with so much vigour the first year as the common elm; and, therefore, the seeds of this tree require to be place at a greater distance from each other than those of any other kind. The seeds of the elm keep better till the following spring than those of the poplar and willow.






Read the rest of this article:
Arboriculture - Table of Contents