166 



PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



spring under partial shade. This partial shade may be made 

 by a lattice work supported on poles (Fig. 90) . Rather sandy 

 soil is best for the starting of these seeds, which are planted 

 very shallow. They may be sown either broadcast or thickly 

 in drills with the rows close together. 



Before young trees of any of the kinds become too crowded 

 in the seed beds they should be transplanted. If they are 

 too small to be used in the forest plantation they are put in 

 rows far enough apart to cultivate in a 

 forest nursery. It is a very common 

 practice to keep young trees in the forest 

 nursery for one or more years. 



Exercise. — Starting Tree Seeds. — Col- 

 lect from the woods, or buy from a seed 

 store, seeds of ash, birch, hard maple, and 

 box elder. Plant them in a window box 

 in loose black soil, covering them to a 

 depth of about one inch. Moisten the 

 soil from time to time and observe the 

 time required for germination of each 

 kind. Note the methods they have of 

 coming out of the soil. How many seed- 

 leaves have they ? (Fig. 91.) 

 Distances Apart for Trees. — The Forest Service recom- 

 mends that in a wood-lot or forest plantation most trees be 

 set four feet apart each way. It is the aim to get the soil 

 shaded by the trees as soon as possible, and to use all the 

 space for tree growth after the first year. The first year 

 a low-growing crop requiring cultivation may be planted in 

 the rows with the young trees. Potatoes may be used for 

 this purpose one season only. 



Another plan followed in some forest planting is to plant 

 the trees two feet apart in the rows with eight feet between 

 the rows. In this plan the space between rows may be used 

 for other cultivated crops for several years. The trees can 



Fig. 91. — Young 

 maple-tree seedling 

 showing the first seed- 

 leaves still clinging. 



