764 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



better and seem to lead to better germination, possibly due to their dark 

 color. At Mont Alto the bed is finally covered by a four-foot "tobacco 

 bundle paper." This paper comes in 250-pound rolls and costs, laid on, 

 about 13 cents per bed. It must be covered by screens and weights. 

 It can be used the second winter if handled carefully, thus reducing the 

 cost. This paper prevents any trouble from birds during the winter 

 until germination is well under way. This is much cheaper than the 

 Pettis screen. (The paper is, of course, much dearer at present.) 



A considerable item of expense in some nurseries is due to the hoe- 

 ing of the paths. The Greenwood Nursery first, and later others are 

 using the one-horse cultivator or scraper. Forester Bietsch, at Green- 

 wood, is also trying the sowing of cowpeas in the paths of two and 

 three year seedlings. Weeds are thus eliminated and nitrogen is added 

 to the soil. 



The Pennsylvania nurseries have taken an advanced position in 

 methods of watering. The Clearfield and Greenwood nurseries have a 

 permanent form of the "Skinner System" over their whole area. At 

 Mont Alto a permanent form was tried, but was found objectionable in 

 some respects. A temporary form was worked out by the writer, which, 

 with much less expense, is very satisfactory. Sections are laid out, so 

 that 100 feet of line is the average requirement in the three-foot aisle. 

 Temporary surface lines are laid out, with standpipes at the head of 

 the three-foot aisles of the section. Stakes about four feet high are 

 placed in the aisles. The temporary line is moved from aisle to aisle as 

 desired and quickly attached to the standpipe. One 100-foot length can 

 supply from 80 to 120 beds very satisfactorily. After the first summer 

 the temporary lines are all removed and there is nothing in the road to 

 hinder cultivation. With the Skinner System there is a great tempta- 

 tion to water too heavily and force growth. Careful supervision must 

 avoid this. In the second and third years irrigation in the paths is pre- 

 ferred to sprinkling. 



Screens seem necessary in Pennsylvania nurseries for about six 

 weeks. In the fall-sown beds there is less need. Some beds were tried 

 without screens last year and look good. Fall-sown seed germinates 

 about May i, and the seedlings are out of danger from sun scald by 

 June I, if watered occasionally. 



Of the common nursery troubles, "damping-off" has been the only 

 one to cause any considerable trouble. At Clearfield it is almost un- 

 known. At Greenwood it is combated by management .of screens and 

 the method of seed-covering mentioned above. At Mont Alto fall sow- 



