AMERICAN SYLVICULTURE 



II. Against weeds. Light covers of weeds are no disadvantage. 

 Where weeds are heavy, seedlings should be planted, rather than 

 seeds. Mowing (with scythe) weeds and crushing briars — prefer- 

 ably before weeas are seeding — is recommended. Where seeds are 

 planted in rows or furrows on abandoned fields, cultivation checks 

 weeds. 



III. Against domestic animals. Pasture is not permissible in 

 seed plantations before the thicket stage is past. 



C. Reinforcing. Bare spots trliere the seeds have failed 

 are usually reinforced by planted seedlings. The latter are taken 

 from adjoining dense spots. In broad-leaved species, the blanks 

 where seeding has failed, had better be marked during the preceding 

 summer. 



Paragraph XVI Direct seeding of the broad- 

 leaved species. 



A. Acorns. 



The germinating acorn leaves the cotyledons below ground. 

 If the first shoot is killed another forms at once. A shelter (or 

 usher) growth to husband a plantation during its first years is 

 hardly needed. Still plantations of Yellow Pine made to protect 

 the Oaks planted between the Pines are often found abroad. Its 

 long tap root prevents the Oak from being lifted by frost. 



The soil cover given varies between one and three inches, 

 according to the looseness and porosity of the soil. In case of 

 :^ring sowing, germination requires from five to six weeks. 



White Oak and Chestnut Oak acorns planted in fall are often 

 found sprouting before Christmas. The blumula in such cases, 

 however, does not appear above the ground. Red Oak and Black 

 Oak seem to sprout only in spring. 



Acorns may be sown broadcast, especially on abandoned fields, 

 or may be planted with oats and barley or summer rye. The cover 

 is given with a harrow in case of broadcast planting. 



More often acorns are planted in furrows from two to seven 

 feet apart. It is better to plant acorns closely within furrows 

 far apart, than sparingly in furrows near together. The cover is 

 given either by a second furrow or by hoe or rake. 



Cultivation between rows (during summer) is practiced abroad, 

 in the Rhine valley, for three or four years. On abandoned 



