CHAPTER V 



SOWING AND PLANTING IN THE FOREST 



SOWING 



IN some cases it is possible to sow the seeds directly in the 

 woods ; but this should not be attempted with seeds which 

 are expensive to buy, or when there is a heavy growth of 

 weeds, or where the species is a very slow grower, as in these 

 cases the final cost is often more than the cost of planting 

 large plants. Whereas in a nursery the seeds and seedlings 

 can be protected from the numerous dangers to which they 

 are exposed, in a forest nothing can be done except at great 

 cost. Birds and mice may eat up a considerable amount of 

 seed, and a strong growth of weeds will smother a large 

 quantity of the seedlings, unless the ground is continually 

 weeded, which is an expensive work. If, however, a piece of 

 agricultural or other land clear of weeds is to be afforested it 

 may be possible to sow direct ash, sycamore, birch, and pine, 

 which grow rapidly, and in some cases oak, beech, and chest- 

 nut. Autumn is the season adopted by nature, as a rule, for 

 the shedding of the seed, but in artificial sowings spring is a 

 better period, because when sown in spring germination soon 

 follows, while autumn-sown seed remains dormant all the 

 winter, giving time for mice and birds to eat large quantities. 



If sowing is adopted, the general method is the same as in 

 the nursery, but the ground is only partially prepared, to 

 reduce the cost. Strips 18 inches to 2 feet wide and from 

 3 to 4 feet apart should be ploughed or dug up ; the soil 

 should be well pulverized and the seed should then be sown 

 in these strips, and covered with the proper amount of soil. 



