Do just the same.  In California, heat and moisture cause the parting of the seed-cover, more slowly perhaps, but just as surely as the frost at the East.  Early planting of all fruit pits and nuts is desirable for two reasons.  First, it prevents too great drying and hardening and other changes in the seed, because the soil moisture prevents it; second, it gives plenty of time for the opening and germination first mentioned.  But early planting must be in ground which is loamy and light rather than heavy, because if the soil is so heavy as to become water-logged the kernel is more apt to decay than to grow.  Where there is danger of this, the seed can be kept in boxes of sand, continually moist, but not wet, by use of water, and planted out, as sprouting seeds, after the coldest rains are over, say in February.  Cherry and plum seeds should be kept moist after taking from the fruit; very little is usually had from dry seeds.  The other fruits will stand considerable drying.  Very few olives are from the seed, because of reversion to wild types — also because it is so much easier to get just the variety you want by growing trees from cuttings.

Mailing Scions.

Which is the best way to send scions by mail?

Wax the ends of mature cuttings, remove the leaves and enclose in a tight tin canister with no wet packing material.

Nursery Stock in Young Orchard.

How will it do to raise, for two or three years, a lot of orange seedlings between the rows of young three-year-old orange trees?  I see that a nurseryman near me has done this, and his trees are more flourishing than mine.

It can be done all right, as your own observation affirms.  The superior appearance of the trees may be due to the additional water, and fertilizer probably, used to push the seedlings; possibly also to extra cultivation given them.  It all depends upon what policy is observed in growing the seedlings; if something more than usual is done for their sakes, the trees may get their share and manifest it.  If not, the trees will be robbed by the seedlings, and there is likely to be loss by both.  There is no advantage in the mere fact that both are grown; there may be in the way they are grown.  Whether there is money value in the operation or not depends upon how many undertake it.

Square or Triangular Planting.

What is your opinion on triangular planting as compared with square planting?

Planting in squares is the prevailing method.  The triangular plan is not a good one when one contemplates removing trees planted as fillers.  The orchard should either be planned in the square or quincunx form.  In the latter case individual trees can be easily removed; in the other case rows can be removed — leaving the rows which you wish to keep equidistant from each other.

Killing Stumps by Medication.

Will boring into green stumps and inserting a handful of saltpeter kill the roots and cause the stump to readily burn up a few months later?