36 FORESTRY WORK 



possible. By the time the seeds are sown, the beds will 

 have settled down. 



They should be well raked just before sowing, first with 

 a heavy rake having iron teeth 2 inches to 2| inches long, 

 and afterwards with a finer one, to make the tilth as 

 mealy as possible for the reception of the seed. The paths 

 between the beds should be trodden firm, as by doing so 

 the latter are left raised about 2 inches or so above the 

 paths, which makes subsequent operations more easy, 

 especially when using drill-boards or rollers, as explained 

 later. 



Methods of Sowing Seed — (1) Broadcast. 



To open the beds for sowing broadcast, a tool called a 

 " cuffing-board " is used, which is in shape similar to a 

 rake, but with a solid board in place of the toothed head. 

 Working from each side, the soU is pushed back from the 

 centre to the edges of the bed, leaving a smooth level 

 surface. The depth of the soil pushed back depends upon 

 the size of the seed. 



The seed is then scattered over the prepared surface, 

 either by allowing it to run between the fingers or by 

 sprinkling it from a round tin, about 3 inches in diameter, 

 with the lid perforated with holes large enough only to 

 allow the seed to pass through one at a time. The seed 

 can be more evenly distributed in this way than by hand. 

 After the seed is sown, it is usually rolled lightly. To 

 replace the soil, the cuffing-board is again used by placing 

 it at the back of soil that has been pushed aside, given a 

 sharp pull, which shoots the soil back over the bed. 



