312 Forestry Quarterly. 



tilizer. Two forest plows, manufactured by Eckert, but with a 

 disk coulter added — which proved an absolute necessity — are 

 used, one to peel off the surface cover, the other, a subsoil plow, 

 to loosen the soil in strips or furrows. 



A one-horse harrow, consisting of an iron frame with teeth 

 bent backward (to avoid hanging on roots), and a guiding handle, 

 found necessary in order to keep the harrow properly at work, 

 smoothes the soil in the i6-inch furrow; a specially constructed 

 sowing machine (to be had for $80 from A. I. Troster-Butzbach) 

 follows immediately, sowing seed as well as fertilizer in three 

 rills (preferable to broadcast) and covering it at the same time. 



The special features of the sowing machine are that it runs on 

 wheels, with an extension axle, the one in the furrow to be sowed, 

 the other in the adjoining furrow ; it has in front of each seed 

 tube a double disk coulter which not only prevents hanging but 

 brings the seed into the soil. Of course, seed quantities and depth 

 can be gauged. Behind each seed tube follows an independent 

 roller, a single broad roller proving less efficient. The fertilizer, 

 which is to assist in a good start for the little seedlings, must be 

 carefully gauged and may consist of various combinations. The 

 author promises a further discussion on this phase, but states now 

 that Guano or Thomas slag, or potash-ammonia-superphosphate, 

 may be used. Thomas slag, 6 lbs. per acre, has proved very satis- 

 factory. 



While hand sowing would have cost $4 to $4.50 per acre, the 

 machine does it for $1 to $2. While, to allow for losses, about 10 

 lbs. of seed had formerly been used, 5 to 6 lbs. are sufficient for 

 machine sowing, a considerable saving. The machine being good 

 for 20 years and requiring occasional repairs there are still $3.50 

 per acre saved by machine work. With acorns the saving has 

 been even $5 and $6. One horse and one man, when accustomed 

 to the woii:, can harrow, sow and fertilize 3^ to 34- acres per day. 



Weeding between the furrows on the balk is also done by 

 machine, a specially designed small plow, in the fall and spring, 

 not between these times. This cultivation, not done until the 

 second and third year, helps the plants greatly. 



Weeding in the rows is, however, troublesome, as it must be 

 done by hand, if necessary. 



In the conditions where these methods are employed, this weed- 

 ing cost $1.50 per acre per year, the plow weeding $2. 



