Question
I hove some seeds from a 100 year old cheery tree and I want to propagate some of the seeds.  What is the best way to do it. Thank you

Answer
Hi Ted,
Thanx for your question.  I'm not a fruit tree expert but I'll tell you what I know and then I'll refer you to the fruit tree guys/gals.

If you have seeds from a 100-year old tree they're probably heirloom or open-pollinated or otherwise known as antique fruit trees.  They will most likely come true from seed if this is the case.  Or, there should be very little variation in the quality of the fruit and plant.  Do you know what the name of the tree is?  I had a man send me some heirloom pear seeds a few years ago.  I've just recently gotten interested in open-pollinated fruit trees.

Take the seed and wrap them in damp paper towels.  Place them inside a plastic baggie and seal.  Place this in the refrigerator for 3 months.  After that period, take the seeds out of the plastic baggie and remove the old paper towel.  Plant seeds in individual pots, 1 inch deep.  Place the pots under 48" shop lights and keep the room temperature at about 75癋.  They should begin to sprout in a few weeks.  Allow them to grow under lights until the last frost and then take the pots outdoors and place them in the shade for 10 days.  After that, plant cherry trees in full sun  where they will get 8 hours of full sun per day.  Let me know how it goes and let me know if you ever want to share any of those seeds.

Most fruit trees nowadays are grafted onto hardier root stock.  If you'd like to talk to our local fruit experts, go back to Home/Garden and click on Gardening and then click on Fruit.  Elyse Grau and Nick McCann are your experts.  

I hope this helps.
Tom