318 



SEEDING AND PLANTING 



It is 4 or more feet in length, 5 or 6 inches wide, and 1 inch or 

 more in thickness. A row of holes J- inch in diameter or larger 

 are bored \ inch from the edge at the spacing interval desired. 

 Wedge-shaped slots are cut from the edge of the board into the 



Planting Board 



rRecepticle for 

 puddling roots 



Rack 



FIG. 83. Stringing rack and transplanting board in which the plants are 

 held in place with a string. 



holes with the point of the wedge upward. Before the slots are 

 cut the edge of the board between them is strengthened by nailing. 

 In operating this board, it is placed upon the bed and serves as 

 a trenching board. After the trench is dug the board is moved 

 forward until the slots overhang its vertical edge and the seed- 

 lings are threaded into the holes through the slots. The spread- 

 ing leaves of the seedlings prevent them from falling through. 

 After threading, the board is pushed backward until the roots 

 hang against the vertical wall of the trench. The soil is filled 

 in and thoroughly firmed with the feet. A backward movement 

 of the board disengages the seedlings as the holes must be large 

 enough so that the slightest pull will draw them through. The 

 size of the holes should be governed by the size of the stock 

 transplanted (Fig. 84). 



In using the board the stock should be nearly uniform in size 

 or the smaller trees will pull through the holes while the larger 

 ones will be pulled out of the soil or the tops injured in removing 

 the board. 



