soonami

I collected seeds fall 2005 and I collected 100+ stratified them and in the spring only 10 or so germinated. Granted this is one experience, but I didn't find picking the seeds, dewinging them, soaking them, and stratifying them worth the effort. This was especially clear this spring when I walked around the forest and collect 50 seedlings by just pulling on the trunk with little force.

As for the trading, these seeds really don't have much value for trade, most people are interested in seeds of traditional species such as: Japanese black pine, white pine or maple, tridents, and chinese elm. If you want to trade, go out in march and cut down a hornbeam with a 4" trunk, you'll get a good deal with one of those.

As for seed treatment, collect the seeds while they are still green and the wings are just starting to turn yellow. Take off the wings and soak the seeds, then transfer to moist medium for 1 month at 70ºF and then 3 months at 40ºF. After the risk of frost plant outside. Instead of artificially stratifying the seeds you can just soak the seeds and then plant them directly outside or store them underground in a container until early spring when you can dig up the seeds and sow them directly.