l66 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



will be accomplished, however, if a concise practical review of the 

 leading items of labour essential in raising seedlings and creating 

 plantations up to their present stage is portrayed." 



The first subject dealt with in the report is that of tree seeds, 

 concerning which the author gives some very sound advice. 

 The collection of " home " seed in the island is as yet not 

 practised on a large scale (about 8 cwt. of seed is required 

 annually), owing to the expense of cone gathering and seed 

 extraction, and also to the " questionable practice of tree-raising 

 from seed, which has, perhaps, been taken from comparatively 

 youthful trees." The last remark applies principally to trees of 

 the pine, larch and silver fir genera. No difficulty is experienced 

 in securing sufficient quantities of hardwood seed. In referring 

 to the importance of selecting good seed trees, Mr Robinson 

 reminds his readers that " well-bodied seeds from a healthy 

 mature tree not only possess greater germinative qualities, but 

 are also capable of enduring more adverse conditions after 

 sowing, and each succeeding year the importance of this seed- 

 selection receives more universal recognition. The possession ot 

 these facts has influenced the action of the seed-collectors for the 

 Department in gathering only from specially selected trees." 



The article concludes with the description of a few simple tests 

 for seed quality. 



The preparation of the ground for seed-sowing is next ex- 

 plained in a thoroughly workmanlike fashion. The seed-beds 

 vary in width. They may be either 27 ins., 34 ins., 42 ins., or 

 72 ins., and between each bed an alley or path 21 ins. to 27 ins. 

 broad is formed. The seed is sown in furrows which run in a 

 longitudinal direction. These furrows are 12 ins. in width, and 

 it is interesting to note that they are prepared by means of a 

 grooved roller, the grooves in this case, however, being broader 

 and placed at right angles to those of the Murthly type.i 



The methods employed in tending the seed-beds, such as the 

 special precautions which are adopted in watering and weeding, 

 and the hardening off of the seedlings, are next carefully explained. 



Under the next heading the author gives the result of his 

 practical experience of the system known as "Wrenching." He 

 says : 



"The success we have achieved in transplanting young pines, 

 evergreeens, and seedlings generally that produce lengthened 

 ^ See Roy. Scot. Arbor. Trans., vol. xxix. part i, plate ix., page 96. 



