HOW TREES GROW AND MULTIPLY 19 



tical tests have shown that thick sowings of tree 

 seeds give the best results, There is little dan- 

 ger of weeds smothering out the seedlings under 

 such conditions. After the seed has germinated 

 the beds may be thinned so that the seedlings will 

 have more room to develop. 



During the fall of the same year, or in the fol- 

 lowing spring, the seedlings should be trans- 

 planted to nursery rows. Thereafter it is cus- 

 tomary to transplant the young trees at least 

 once again during damp weather. When the 

 trees finally are robust and vigorous and have 

 reached the age of two to five years, they are dug 

 up carefully and set out permanently. The usual 

 practice is to keep the seedlings one year in the 

 seedbed and two years in the nursery rows before 

 they are set out. Whether the transplanting 

 should take place during the spring or fall de- 

 pends largely on the climate and geography of 

 the locality. Practical experience is the best 

 guide in such matters. 



Some farmers and land owners are now inter- 

 ested in setting out hardwood forests for com- 

 mercial purposes. If they do not wish to 

 purchase their seedlings from a reliable nursery- 

 man, they can grow them from carefully selected 



