THE PRACTICAL COUNTRY GENTLEMAN 



in the fertilizers from satisfying, its hunger for 

 a base by combining with iron or alum, which is 

 undesirable because phosphates of iron and 

 alumina are very soluble; and in addition to 

 these things its mechanical effects on the soil are 

 numerous and beneficial. 



The cheapest way to start a wood lot, espe- 

 cially of either white pine or chestnut, is from 

 seed. M. Knechtel, Forester of the New York 

 State Forest, Fish, and Game Commission, of- 

 fers some valuable suggestions which farmers 

 should be able to turn to good account 



Chestnuts for seed should be gathered in the 

 fall as soon as they drop from the trees. Spread 

 them out in a thin layer on the floor where the 

 sun will be on them, the greater part of the day. 

 Leave them there for a week or ten days, then 

 pack them in a barrel or box in moist sand, 

 three bushels of sand to one bushel of nuts. 

 Keep them until spring in a cool dry place ; then 

 as soon as the ground thaws out, plant them 

 where they are to remain. Take a grub hoe 

 and hack up the soil in spots about five feet 

 apart each way. Put two nuts In each spot an 

 no 



