ELEMENTARY FORESTRY 



371 



After directions for saving the seed, the next topics 

 are naturally the seed bed and methods of planting. 



For the school bed select a strip of ground about three 

 feet wide, sheltered on the north and west by a hedge or 

 fence. Make the soil mellow to a depth of from twelve to 

 fifteen inches and enrich it with leaf mould or rotted sods. 

 Sow the seeds in drills eight inches apart across the bed, 

 quite thickly since many tree seeds are imperfect. When 



Fig. 145. A Treeless Street 



they come up, thin to about an inch apart by removing 

 the weaker seedlings after danger of damping off is past. 

 The depth to which the seeds are covered is a matter 

 of great importance, more tree seeds being killed by too 

 deep covering than in any other way. Elm seeds, for 

 example, are unable to germinate if planted half an inch 

 deep. A good general rule, as with many other seeds, is 

 to cover them about their own diameter. The ground 



