64 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



greater the former, and the slower the latter, the broader 

 should be the sown strips. Generally the width would 

 range between 18 inches and 3 feet. 



The distance between the strips depends on similar 

 considerations. In addition, the desired density of the 

 wood has to be considered. The distance would or- 

 dinarily range from 3 to 6 feet. . 



The cultivation of the soil is generally done with the 

 hoe or plough ; the sowing is best done by hand, a 

 method which various machines have not yet succeeded 

 in superseding. The seed should be covered up with 

 rakes or harrows, and in the case of heavy seeds some- 

 times with the plough. 



Apart from a reduction of expenditure, strip sowing 

 has other advantages over broadcast sowing ; the soil 

 can, without incurring an excessive expenditure, be 

 more carefully prepared and the seedlings more effectu- 

 ally protected. 



When each strip consists of one, or perhaps two 

 furrows, drawn with a plough, the method is called 

 sowing in furroivs ; it is specially employed in sowing 

 heavy seeds, the seed being sown in the furrow and 

 covered, either by drawing a second furrow, or with 

 the rake or hoe. It admits of a further reduction of 

 expenditure as compared with regular strips. 



b. Sowing in Patches. 



The seed-beds consist of round, oblong, square or 

 rectangular patches of limited extent, scattered as evenly 

 as practicable over the area. The extent of each patch 

 varies according to circumstances ; they may be of any 



