Wood and covert from seed 83 



are from little trees, say under a foot high generally, but 

 during hot years, in the southern and midland counties, 

 failures are common, even of sound little trees. Planting 

 as usually done is expensive. This is especially so if 

 the work is not organized by a woodman, who knows 

 what to do and how promptly planting should be done. 

 Every trade has its routine way, which is not always 

 the best way for the buyer, and is often nothing more 

 than a trade convenience. Sowing trees is a most 

 interesting way, it is also the natural way, and my ex- 

 perience is much in favour of seedling trees as against 

 planted trees; and those who have poor fields might 

 sow them with tree seeds, getting sound seed, and 

 from good sources. The sowing of trees may be done 

 in different ways according to the soil, the trees chosen, 

 and the labour at our disposal. It may be done broad- 

 cast, and not a bad way in good Oak land is to scatter 

 acorns over the ground and then run a light plough 

 over it, which throws them into lines and also preserves 

 the acorns from their numerous enemies during the 

 winter. Acorns may be dibbled with success in the 

 underwood also. Chestnuts may be planted in the same 

 way. Bare rocky surfaces may be sown broadcast. 

 These remarks apply to native trees and such hardy 

 forest trees as readily take to our climate, and of which 

 sound seed is either at hand, as in the case of Oak, Ash, 

 and Sycamore, or to be obtained from a good seed 

 house. 



Sowing covert direct. If in any bold or varied planting 

 in unfamiliar soil we succeed in one half what we 

 attempt we are fortunate; and I think the best thing 

 I ever did in planting was sowing a bare field of some 

 seven acres with Gorse. It was about to be planted 



G 3 



