social stratification is a method of carrying seeds through the menstruum from the prison term they ripen until they are ready to burgeon forth , with minimum hassle and lodge in minimal space . Some seeds , specially those of certain trees and shrub , will not germinate soon after they ripen , yet perish if they are permitted to dry out . They take a warehousing full stop of several weeks or even months at low temperature and in a moist , sinister place before they are ready to grow . In nature these conditions are furnish for by the seeds ’ falling to the ground in autumn or former wintertime and presently being incubate by timber debris , which see iniquity and prevents dry . wintertime provides the necessary low temperature .
Gardeners often find it convenient to stratify such seedsrather than to sow in them immediately . Stratification provides the conditions the seeds must have without their pickings up as much place or demand as much attending as would be the case if they were sown immediately after they were pucker .
Stratification consists of shuffle the seeds with sand or sand and peat moss that is just moist and storing them where they will remain moist and nerveless . A best-loved way is to place layer of sand , or sand and peat moss , alternately with layer of seed in wooden boxes , then bury the loge 6 in . deep outdoors in a shaded lieu where the dirt is well drain . It is a honest programme to surround the box , before burial , with wire netting or riddle to foil the attempts of rodents to dig up the seeds . If o.k. seeds are being stratified , they may be spread between layers of cheesecloth as they are bury in the sand , or sand and peat moss . The cheesecloth makes it easy to find the seeds when they are want for sowing .
Yet another method acting of stratifying seeds is to commingle them with slightly moist moxie , or sand and peat moss , aim the mixture in jars , and salt away these in a icebox .
Whichever mean of stratification is employed , the seeds should be break up or sieve from the grit or sand and peat moss mixture and should be sown in the regular way in pots , flats , insensate form or outdoors when it is meter for them to germinate .
The absolute majority ofseeds need social stratification germinatethe spring following the summer or autumn in which they ripen , but some kind will not germinate until one year by and by than that .
All seeds that are deal in this personal manner can be germinated by sow in a cold-blooded frame or alfresco as presently as they are ripe , provided the seedbed is kept evenly moist and always favorable to the needs of the seeds .
