STOCKING THE GROUND 115 



Oak and Larch: A bad mixture, both being light- 

 fohaged. The Larch will overgrow the Oak, and the 

 latter will not be pruned. 



Oak and Ash: Another bad mixture. The Oak will be 

 outgrown, and both species will be branchy. 



Beech with Ash and Chestnut or Sycamore: Very 

 good in groups, strips, or uneven-aged woods. 



Birch on almost any soil and Poplars may also be 

 mixed with the most tender species as nurses. If there 

 is a growth of self-sown Birch on the ground, it should 

 be thinned, sufficient being left to serve as nurses. 



Methods of Stocking the Ground — Sowing. 



Where conditions are favourable, woods may be 

 stocked by sowing the seed direct on to the land. Also, 

 in places where the soil is very shallow, as on hillsides, 

 sowing may be a surer method of producing a crop than 

 planting. 



When it is possible to plough the whole area, or strips, 

 sowing may be adopted on land suitable to the growth 

 of Scots Pine, Larch, Spruce, or any of the cheaper 

 seeds. 



The ploughed land should be lightly harrowed, to 

 prevent seeds from falling down between the furrows and 

 being lost. 



The seed, which should be soaked, to hasten germina- 

 tion, and red-leaded, as described in Chapter II., may 

 be sown either broadcast or by a drill. The latter is 

 better, as the seed required is much less and it is more 

 evenly distributed. 



