DIRECT SOWING. 47 



and porosity. A dry, loose, stony soil, and again a hard, 

 cold soil, require more seed than a fresh soil of middling 

 porosity. 



The Mode of Growth. In the case of species which 

 are of quick growth during youth, less seed is required 

 than for others which grow slowly at first and do not 

 close up for some time. 



External Dangers. The seeds are liable to be eaten 

 by animals. Amongst these, birds are most injurious. 

 To protect small seeds against birds they may be coated 

 with red lead. Mice may be caught in traps or poisoned. 

 The young seedlings are subject to injury by animals, 

 fungi, the effects of climate, such as frost, drought, 

 excess of moisture, and they are liable to be choked by 

 weeds. The quantity of seed to be sown is governed by 

 the extent to which such injuries may be expected to 

 take place*" in any given locality. 



Although it is, therefore, impossible to give the actual 

 quantity of seed required in any particular case, the 

 following figures may be taken as illustrating, under 

 average conditions, the necessary quantities in the case 

 of broadcast sowing, the seed being of good quality and 

 clean : 



Quantity of Seed in 

 Pouuds per Acre.* 



Oak 550 



Beech 150 



Hornbeam ) Q c 



V . . . oO 



Ash . J 



Maple | 3Q 



Birch . ) 



Elm 25 



* The figures represent averages derived from the best available information. 



