ESTABLISHING FORESTS BY DIRECT SEEDING 223 



depth of 2 or 3 inches with a grub hoe, stout rake or other tool. 

 From 10 to 15 seeds are scattered over the spot and lightly covered 

 with soil. The soil is then firmed over the seed with moderate 

 pressure of the foot. When available, a light covering of leaf 

 litter is scattered over the spot." 



Seeding in small, prepared seed spots is the only method ex- 

 tensively practiced in the direct seeding of conifers in the United 

 States. This method has not proved as successful in the past as 

 it is likely to prove in the future when more careful attention 

 is given to the selection of suitable sites and the necessary 

 preparation of the soil for the reception of the seed (Fig. 40). 



Photograph by U. S. Forest Service 



FIG. 40. (Sowing Douglas fir seed in small prepared seed spots. 

 Pike National Forest. 



Greeley emphasizes the fact that advantage must be taken of 

 every feature of the site that may afford protection to the young- 

 seedlings in locating the individual spots. Placing the spots on 

 the north or east side of a stump, stone or mound of earth may 

 afford the seedlings sufficient protection to bring them through 

 the first summer, which is by far the most critical period in de- 

 termining the success or failure in the regeneration after germi- 

 nation has been attained. 



The regeneration of conifers by direct seeding in small, pre- 

 pared seed spots has been far more successful in some parts of 



