Practical Sylviculture 115 



venient implement for marking the drills by pressing this 

 board, strips down, on the top of the bed. Handles fastened 

 to the top of the board facilitate its use, since it may be 

 handled easier. The seeds are sown in the marks of these 

 three-cornered strips, after which they are lightly covered. 

 In sowing seed broadcast, it is best, after the required 

 amount is decided upon, to mark off the bed in small 

 areas about a foot square, either by stretching strings, or 

 by marking it lightly with a stick and sowing one square at 

 a time. For example, if a certain amount of seed is to 

 be sown on twenty-four such squares, then one-twenty- 

 fourth of the seed should be taken and sown in one square 

 and so on until all are sown. This is merely an aid to an 

 even distribution of the seed. The depth to which a seed 

 should be planted depends somewhat on the size. As a 

 general rule, they should not be covered any deeper than 

 twice their own thickness. It is a very easy matter to 

 plant the seeds too deep, which will cause them to germi- 

 nate unevenly. After the seed is sown, it is best covered 

 by sifting fine earth upon it with a hand sieve until all is 

 covered, then pressed down or lightly rolled so as to firm 

 the seed in the soil. If the ground is dry, it may then be 

 lightly sprinkled. (Fig. 30.) 



How much seed to use. The quantity of seed required 

 depends on the kind and the amount that will grow. It 

 is always best to test the seed by cutting a certain number 

 and examining them. In this way a certain percentage of 

 good and bad can be established. One ounce of good white- 

 pine seed will be sufficient for about thirty linear feet of 

 drills, while smaller seed like the Norway spruce will sow 

 about seventy feet of drill. In broadcast seeding, about 



