214 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



" 111 France and Germany, plantations of birch are frequently 

 made by sowing the seed where the trees are intended finally to 

 remain. For this purpose, the poorest soils are harrowed ui 

 humid weather, in the month of October or November, and 

 fifteen pounds of seed, as it is taken from the catkins along with 

 the scales, is sown on an acre, and afterwards covered with a 

 bush harrow. It is observed by Michaux, that burned soil is 

 peculiarly favorable to the growth of the birch, which, in 

 America reappears as by enchantment, in forests that have been 

 burned down." 



The pines are most readily propagated by seed. If the trees 

 are to be propagated artificially, the seed must be deposited on 

 or near the surface ; it should not be buried beneath, or in case 

 tliis is absolutely necessary, as when they are sown in open fields, 

 the covering should not exceed an eighth of an inch, and should 

 be light and loose.* A soil and surface formed by the decay of 

 tlie leaves of deciduous trees is best, as it is precisely that in 

 which the seed naturally vegetates. All pines require to be 

 cultivated in large masses. They naturally grow thus, and 

 although, when so growing, they seem to be extremely hardy, 

 they do not thrive when solitary, but are parched by the sun, 

 and stunted by the cold and wind. 



The cones, which are mature after one, two, or three seasons, 

 may be gathered in the winter, as the scales do not usually open 

 to allow the seeds to escape till the spring.f The best time for 

 sowing the seeds is early in the spring, as soon as the frost is 

 out of the ground. When poor, thin, rocky or sandy soil is to 

 be clothed with wood, and it is important to save the time and 

 expense of the several transplantations, the seeds may be sown 

 where the trees are intended to remain. They must be sown 

 abundantly, as they are liable to destruction by various enemies. 

 On a rocky surface, they may be cast into the crevices of the 

 rocks, or beneath the thin soil which covers them. On an open 

 plain, they require protection, which may be found in various 



* All experimenters in the artificial propagation of forest trees should be 

 careful not to bury the seed too deep, especially of the pines, birches, maples 

 and elms. — Ed. 



t The demand for pine seeds, as well as for the seeds of other forest trees, 

 has become such as to make it an object for persons who have an opportu- 

 nity, to gather them for the market. — Ed. 



