New Seed Bed Frame 187 



parts 12 feet long and two parts 4^ feet long, the extra ^ foot 

 being used for the lap at the corners. If this lap shows a 

 tendency to come open at the corners it can be stapled to the 

 ends of the 1x2 side pieces. 



The frame is so constructed as to permit of exactly regulating 

 the depth of cover by the use of a smoothing board, shown in the 

 diagram. Recent experiments at the Savenac Nursery have shown 

 conclusively that it is important to regulate this depth of covering 

 to within ]/% of an inch in order to get the greatest and most 

 rapid germination. The 2x2 uprights on the sides of the frame 

 are placed on the outside so that the board can slide on the lower 

 horizontal side pieces from one end of the bed to the other. It 

 is notched at either end where it rests on the side pieces and can 

 be made to cover the seed to any depth by making the difference 

 between the notches on one edge and the notches on the other 

 edge equal the desired depth. The edge with the deeper notch 

 is used for smoothing the surface of the bed preparatory to sow- 

 ing and the edge with the shallower notch is drawn across the bed 

 to smooth and equalize the covering material. A "crown" of ^ 

 inch is given to each edge, thus leaving the bed higher in the 

 center than at the sides to provide for surface drainage. This 

 board has been found very satisfactory for regulating the depth 

 of covering seed, particularly in experimental beds. 



