116 PROPAGATION OF TREES FROM SEED. [June 



" The American Journal of Forestry devoted to the Interests of Forest 

 Tree-planting, the Formation and Care of Woodlands and Orna- 

 mental Plantations generally, and to the various Economies 

 therein concerned." Cincinnati, 0. 



" Bulletin de la ligne du reboisement de I'Alg^rie." Algiers. 



" Oesterreichische Forst-Zeitung. Zeitung fiir Forstwirthschaft von 

 Holzhandel, Jagd und Fischerei : " redigirt vom Prof. E. Gustav 

 Hempel. Vienna. 



" La Foret," revue foresti^re redig^ par Bernard Aragon. Toulouse. 



PROPAGATION OF TREES FROM SEED. 



Extracts from a paper read by Jackson DA^YSOX before the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticidtural Society in Boston, March 7. 



WE may learn much from nature in her methods of raising 

 trees from seeds, though we can improve upon some of 

 these methods, and supply ourselves with trees more economically. 

 The sowing of seed where the trees are to remain is poor economy. 



In selecting a place for the seed bed, the soil for all large seeds 

 should be a deep, rich, mellow loam, avoiding, if possible, all thin, 

 gravelly soils. It should be well manured with good manure a 

 year old, ploughed and trenched from 12 to 15 inches deep, well 

 pulverized with a harrow, and all large stones, grass and other 

 rubbish should be raked off, so as to have the soil in the finest 

 condition. It should be well sheltered from the north and west 

 winds either by a hedge or temporary fence. If springy or low, it 

 must be well drained. If the seed is to be sown in the beds, they 

 should be 5 feet wide, with paths 2^ feet between. Sowing in 

 rows 9 inches apart across the bed is preferable to broadcast sowing, 

 or the seeds may be sown in long nursery rows, 18 inches apart if 

 to be worked by hand, or from 2^ to 3 feet apart if cultivated by 

 horse power. The Ijeds are more easily shaded and watered than 

 long rows, and in the fall more easily protected. 



Seed should never be sown when the ground is wet or when it is 

 raining. The soil should not be too dry, but in such a condition 

 that it can be raked without clogging. If the soil is too wet it will 

 bake hard, and a great many seeds will scarcely come through. If 

 too dry the seed is apt to wash out unless covered deeper than is 

 necessary. Light lath screens should be provided to shelter the 

 very delicate plants from the hot sun. 



In sowing in the fall begin with the oaks, chestnuts, chinquapin, 

 hickory, and beechnuts, which do not retain their vitality long, and 



