50 FARM FORESTRY 



dry seasons the nursery rows should be moistened if it is seen 

 that the seedlings are suffering. Mulching between the rows 

 will be found to work well in many cases. The seedlings 

 should be protected during the first winter by mulching with 

 straw or leaves. The seedlings of broadleaf trees will be 

 large enough for planting the spring following the seeding. 



Growing Evergreen Seedlings. The raising of evergreen 

 seedlings is much more difficult than the raising of seedlings 

 of broadleaf trees. They must be shielded from the hot sun 

 during the first year and are likely to be killed by disease. 

 Where it is desired to grow evergreen seedlings it will be 

 better to purchase one or two year old seedlings from nursery- 

 men and set them out in the nursery to grow for a year or two 

 before planting. 



The seed of coniferous or evergreen trees like pines, 

 spruces, firs, etc., are broadcasted on specially prepared seed- 

 beds usually made 4 feet wide and 12 or more feet long. 

 The soil is fertilized and worked with care so that it is the 

 same degree of fineness throughout. The seed is then sown 

 thinly over the surface at the rate of about an ounce to 5 or 6 

 square feet. The bed is then rolled and the seed just covered 

 by sifting fine dirt or sand over the bed. The beds are then 

 thoroughly soaked with water and covered with a mulch of 

 straw or leaves or other material until the seed has germinated. 

 The mulch is then removed and the bed covered with a lath 

 screen that allows half shade, elevated about a foot above 

 the beds. The great danger in growing coniferous seedlings 

 is that when the seedlings have come out of the ground they 

 are likely to be killed by the damping off fungus. This can 

 be controlled only with great care and attention, by removing 

 the screens and drying the surface soil when the fungus gets 

 started and digging out the portions of the bed affected. As 

 has been said, it is better to purchase one year old seedlings 

 from nurserymen and set out in rows in the nursery for a 

 year or two. They will cost about $2.00 or $2.50 per thousand. 



