NOTES OF SILVICULTURAL INTEREST. 179 



I have since then found it much better to bed between the 

 rows with spruce needles, as they are not readily shifted by 

 wind, and do not require to be raked off in the spring. Leaving 

 them on the bed keeps down weeds, and reduces the danger of 

 drought to a minimum. 



Mulching to prevent Sunbaking and save Watering. — Mulching 

 seed-beds with moss or cut grass to prevent sunbaking, and to 

 save watering, especially where a large quantity of seed is sown, 

 has been the practice of many foresters for a number of years, 

 but great care must be taken when this material is used in 

 removing it when the young plants come above ground, as much 

 injury may be done to their tender heads, by tearing away 

 the seed casing, before it has dropped off in the natural way. 



A much simpler plan, and one that will be found to answer 

 the purpose quite as well, is to cut spruce boughs with healthy 

 green foliage, where they can be spared, and lay them on the 

 beds with their butt ends stuck in the paths between the beds. 

 When the seed germinates, the inner ends of the boughs should 

 be raised and propped up with a forked twig stuck in the bed 

 between the rows of seeds. An occasional watering over the 

 boughs keeps the beds nice and cool, and the ground will never 

 get crusted, as would be the case with continual watering without 

 any protection. Mulching between the rows of transplants 

 will also be found beneficial to their growth, and, what is of 

 more importance, to the formation of fibrous roots. A good 

 dressing of half-rotten leaf mould between the rows will 

 answer this purpose best, and this should be kept continually 

 stirred with the hoe along with a portion of the surface soil. The 

 fine particles of soil and mould will keep the moisture always 

 near the surface. 



{To be co?tti7iued.) 



