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Old 30-01-2009, 01:29 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Gordon H[_3_] Gordon H[_3_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2008
Posts: 655
Default Looking for alders with fragile cones

In message , Michael
Bell writes
You might remember that last year I started a correspondence about my
idea that alders might be a possible grain crop.

My ideas and experience have moved on.

The cones break open around the middle and the breaks spread to the
ends over the winter. But the seeds are already ripe when the cones
start to open.

I would also like the seeds to be bigger. But that is not the greatest
need.

I now see that the greatest difficulty is that the cones are too
tough. You can't smash the cones and get the seeds out!

Siskins seem to be able to manage it easily enough. :-)
--
Gordon H
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