106 



A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



as it facilitates weeding. Broadcast sowing is done, as 

 described on page 61, by scattering the seed evenly 

 over the whole seed-bed. 



Line sowing may be done by pressing the seed indi- 

 vidually into the ground, or by opening out shallow drills 

 at suitable intervals, and placing the seed into these ; the 

 drills can run longitudinally over the seed-bed, or cross- 

 ways, the latter facilitating weeding. The depth of the 



Fig. 47. 



Fig 48. 



seed drills depends on the species, and ranges from 

 about \ of an inch to 2 inches. Similarly, the distance 

 between the seed-drills depends on the slower or 

 faster development of the seedlings and the time they 

 are to remain in the seed-beds ; it varies from 6 " to 

 upwards of a foot. The seed-drills can be made by 

 hand, with a peg, or narrow-pointed or trowel-shaped 

 hoe (Fig. 47), or by pressing wedge- or square-shaped 

 battens into the ground (Fig. 48). In fact quite a variety 

 of instruments have been invented for the purpose, 

 Fig. 48, , #, c, shows three differently shaped drills. 

 The covering of the seed is done by hand, or with the 



