Germination Requirements of Japanese Cherry

[Colleen Mulinix]

In Article <2t3gjt$n1t at aqua.rerf.or.jp> "allen at rerf.or.jp (Robert L.Allen)" says:
> I am in my last year over here and would like to leave behind
> some cherry trees. The fruit is ripe now. I have some garden
> space, but have forgotten details of germination. (I don't
> speak Japanese well enough to ask over here)
> 
> I remember they need an acid bath (the gut of a bird), but
> do they require scarification? Is a period of reduced temperature
> require?
> 
> Could someone fill me in on the details?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
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I am not sure about Japanese Cherries but tart cherries and sweet cherries
need to be stratified before they will germinate.  To do this, clean the
seed and place it in a poly bag that is filled with moist vermiculite (or 
sand).  Place the bag in a refrigerator for several months.  When you see
the seeds germinating, plant them in a pot.  From there you can harden them
off and plant them outside.
Colleen Mulinix
Michigan State Universi