116 FOEESTRY WORK 



Broadcast Sowing 



The table of germination shows that 1 pound of Scots 

 Pine seed should produce at least 10,000 strong seedhngs. 

 These would be more tnan sufficient to stock an acre if 

 they were planted, but the difficulty in broadcast sowing 

 is to get 1 pound of seed to cover an acre. As seed is 

 cheap compared with plants, it is advisable to use plenty 

 of it to ensme the ground being properly stocked. 



To avoid sowing too thickly, it should be mixed with 

 some other substance, such as coarse sawdust, care being 

 taken to mix it well. A method adopted in some parts of 

 the Continent, and which should succeed in this country, 

 is to mix and sow the seed with Oats. The crop of corn 

 springing up protects the young seedlings for a time, 

 and keeps down any rough growth. 



The corn is cut fairly high, so that the young seedhngs 

 escape the knives of the machine or scj^thes. 



During harvesting operations many young plants will 

 be killed, but enough will be left to stock the ground. 



The value of the Oat crop, even if only a poor one, 

 will help to repay the initial cost of stocking the ground. 



With this method only 2 or 3 pounds per acre need 

 be used, whereas if it were sown by itself from 5 to 

 C pounds of Scots Pine seed would be required. 



In broadcast sowing by hand, the sower has a curved 

 tin hung round his waist, supported by a strap over the 

 shoulders. From this, with either hand alternately, he 

 takes a small handful of seed, and, keeping time with his 

 stride, throws the seed in a sweeping curve. The amount 



