Staining before install

Q: Would it be easier to stain a new pine floor before it is laid?

If this is the case, could we go ahead and give one coat of finish? The last part of my question is, would we have to stain the ends of the boards when we cut them for installation?

A: I don’t see that staining and applying a coat of finish will help you. The floors will not be flat after installation, and will require some sanding of the surface to make it uniform.