New Seed Bed Frame 185 



survival counts of seedlings. It is also of value, where beds are 

 shaded, in bringing the shade close to the seedlings and reducing 

 the direct light which comes in at the ends and sides. 



At Priest River, burrowing rodents can be controlled by plac- 

 ing the wire a comparatively short distance below the surface on 

 the sides and ends. The 13^-inch extension shown in the diagram 

 is therefore sufficient and provides this underground protective 

 feature without making it necesssary to leave the beds permanently 

 in place as when the wire is placed to a greater depth. By extend- 

 ing the upright portions of the frame on the sides and ends 3j4 

 inches below the lower side piece and sharpening them to a 

 wedge-shaped point, it is possible to tack this l^^-inch extension 

 to the uprights, thus preventing it from bending and catching in 

 handling and making it possible to bury or lift this underground 

 portion of the screen with practically no more time or trouble 

 than is required in handling, if the frame is placed entirely on the 

 surface. 



The arrangement for fastening the corners together, as shown 

 in the detail drawing, is very simple, and the fact that setting up 

 or taking down can be done by merely pushing in or pulling out 

 three, loose, 30-penny spikes at each corner makes it possible to 

 do the work very easily and quickly. The use of bolts or screws, 

 which would require considerably more time, is thus avoided. At 

 the same time this arrangement furnishes a solid, tight, square 

 corner as good in every way as a nailed or bolted corner. In 

 constructing these knock-down frames it is desirable to use a 

 templet or guide board for boring the holes for the spikes, in 

 order that all holes will be made at the same point and all end 

 and side sections will be interchangeable. The dove-tailed con- 

 struction of the corners of the top screens, as shown in the 

 diagram, is for the purpose of utilizing the lumber to the fullest 

 extent and making a solid square corner. 



The life of frames can be materially increased by treatment 

 with a creosote preservative. Experiments carried on by the Wind 

 River Experiment Station indicate that if carefully applied long 

 enough in advance of use, so that all creosote is completely ab- 

 sorbed by the wood and dry, no injury to the young seedlings 

 should result. In these experiments, both creosote and carbo- 

 lineum were applied with a brush in from one to three coats. 

 Penetration and drying were aided by having the wood warm 



