Rod wrote:
On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 17:33:37 GMT, gray wrote:

Yes - but how would you get on with say 100 seeds ??

I have thought about holding each one with a pair of pliers and
just
grinding a bit off on my bench grinder.

Been there, done that -got the raw fingers to show for it.
This link is to the old Thompson and Morgan seed germination
database.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm.html

Tends to err in the direction of making things grow rather than
letting them grow, but it's OK when you've got less than fresh seed
that's been kept in sub-optimal conditions - then some of the
tricks
for breaking complex dormancy conditions are quite useful. However
for
fresh seeds, just sowing some in autumn and some in spring;
protected
from rodents should give you as much germination as you need for a
very wide range of subjects. Try to find out about the plant's
natural
habitat and give it a close approximation of those conditions

But aren't the nice plump hazel nuts you buy the result of selective
breeding, like any other fruit crop? Shouldn't this mean that
propagation from seed will be unreliable in terms of quality of the
produce? If I'm right, it would be better to buy a few young trees as
foundation stock to propagate from cuttings. I note that my wild
hazels never produced a serious crop, and fear that the usual
fruit-tree rules on varieties will always apply.

Mike.