=Scotch Fir= cones are better not collected till early in January, and the time may even be extended till March. When quite ripe they have changed from bluish-green to a light, grey colour. As the cones part tardily with the seeds, artificial means have to be resorted to, the cones being placed thinly over a kiln heated to a temperature of from 75° to 112°. They should be turned every third hour, and after about thirty hours the kiln should be cooled down and the cones extracted as quickly as possible. By beating with a flail the seeds are readily removed from the cones, but it is best to do this before the cones have cooled down or immediately they are removed from the kiln. The seeds are then swept together and collected, and stored away until wanted for sowing. When not required for sowing at once, the seeds should be thinly spread out on the floor and slightly moistened with water from a fine rose watering-can. They should then be turned about until perfectly dry before being stored away. =Silver Fir= seed does not require much, if any, artificial heat to cause it to part from the cone. By placing the cones in the sunshine, and heating and turning freely, the seeds come out without much trouble. In all cases, however, wherever possible, it is wise policy to dispense with artificial heat or kiln-drying as, unless this is carried out most carefully, the vitality of the seeds is greatly impaired thereby. =Sycamore= seeds are ready for gathering in October, but should not be sown till the end of March or beginning of April. =Walnuts= are collected, when ripe, in autumn, and sown in late spring. =Yew= seeds are usually washed of the pulpy matter before being sown. In the case of large seeds, such as those of =Araucaria imbricata=, =Pinus sabiniana=, and =P. macrocarpa=, the best way is to cut the cones to pieces and carefully remove the seeds. This operation should be performed with great care, so that the hard seed coating may not be injured. With conifers in general I have invariably found it the best plan to allow the seed to remain in the cones until wanted for sowing. By keeping the cones in a cool, dry place, and occasionally turning them over, there need be little fear but that the seeds will turn out well. CHAPTER III PROPAGATING TREES AND SHRUBS There are several methods of propagating trees and shrubs: such as by seed-sowing, from cuttings or layers, and by budding and grafting.