Show stratification process of maturing some seeds seeds of many plants require from six m months to two years in order to germinate most of the alpines albines Al pines primroses prim roses wildflowers wild flowers stone fruits and trees and shrubs in the wild state drop their seeds into the soil during the summer or late fall there they lie all winter undergoing freezing and thawing an experience that bursts the outer coverings and prepares the inmost vital germ to start into life this process is known as stratification writes ruth mosher place in the detroit news the word is used loosely to describe any method of burying seeds indoors or out by which they are subjected to low temperatures and allowed to remain in darkness and moisture until they have reached the proper stage of maturity whether the actual freezing of the seeds completes this process is not definitely known freezing seems necessary to the the germination of many alpines albines and for many species of woody plants and apparently is a part of the process under natural conditions according to the old method of stratifying seeds they were buried in layers of sawdust nursery practice consists in planting slow germinating seeds in boxes of pure sand which are put six inches deep in the ground sometimes wire cages are put around the seeds to prevent int damage from rodents large seeds such as peach stones are often planted directly in the ground very fine choice specimens may be kept in small flats under cover |