RAISING OR KEEPING UP THE FOREST 85 



elm, ash, and maple generally less than half are good, 

 while of yellow poplar seed ninety per cent is commonly 

 worthless. 



The number of plants which are obtained from a pound 

 of seed depends, of course, on the number of seeds in a 

 pound, on the per cent of good seeds, and also on the 

 vigor of the seedlings. 



The number of seeds in a pound varies within wide 

 limits. In the light and winged seed of birch there are 

 over four hundred thousand grains to the pound ; in Nor- 

 way, shortleaf, and Scotch pine, red fir, and spruce, about 

 seventy thousand ; in white pine, about thirty thousand ; 

 in white ash, about ten thousand ; in basswood and sugar 

 maple, about seven thousand, while in walnuts there are 

 only about thirty nuts per pound. In sowing, the seeds 

 should be well spaced so that about three to five grains 

 of coniferous seeds come to one linear inch of the drill. 

 Acorns and nuts are dropped about two to three inches 

 apart, and in the case of most of the smaller seeds of 

 broad-leaved trees one to three seeds are sown to each 

 inch of drill. 



Seedlings. If properly cared for, i.e., hoed, weeded, 

 and, if need be, watered, and carefully sheltered, the 

 little seedlings should take a firm hold of the ground 

 and become fully established during the first summer. 

 Pine, spruce, and other conifers generally remain small 

 the first season, usually growing to a height of only one 



