118 The Farm Woodlot 



The screens must be kept on during the greater part of 

 the first season, particularly during warm days, but may 

 be removed for a short time morning and evening and on 

 cloudy days. In the second year these shade screens 

 usually are not required. Weeds must be carefully picked 

 out and the beds kept clean. In dry weather the 

 seedlings must be sprinkled, preferably in the evening. 



Preparation for winter. Late in the fall, usually after 

 the ground is frozen and several inches of snow have 

 fallen, the seedlings should be mulched. The beds con- 

 taining the seedlings should be covered with a layer of 

 leaves, straw or hay, upon which the lath should be placed 

 to prevent the wind from removing the mulch. This 

 mulch should remain until the following spring when all 

 danger from frost is past, and should be removed just 

 before growth begins. A good mulch will prevent alter- 

 nate freezing and thawing and heaving out of the seedlings. 



Transplanting. Seedlings of the eastern conifers are 

 small and rather delicate, as a rule, in the first and some- 

 times in the second year. In the woodlot in which condi- 

 tions are trying, very young and tender seedlings involve 

 a risk in planting, so that better results are secured by 

 using transplanted seedlings. One-year-old seedlings may 

 be taken out of the seed-bed, planted in another bed 

 in rows about four inches apart and about two inches 

 apart in the row. Transplanting has the advantage of 

 improving the root system, making it more compact and 

 fibrous. In case one transplanting is insufficient, the 

 seedlings may be twice transplanted, or in exceptional 

 cases three times. Seedlings may be transplanted at the 

 beginning of the second season when they are one year 



